§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy to ensure that all area health boards in Northern Ireland provide the same level and quality of acute medical services and that the distribution of resources to them reflects this policy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 11 January 1988]: The level of services required to meet the needs of the population of each health and social services board's area is not necessarily the same since there are differences in the age and sex structures of the population and in levels of morbidity and social deprivation, all of which influence the need for hospital care.
My aim is to endeavour to relate the distribution of resources to provide an adequate and reliable service. To this end a review of the procedures for allocating resources is currently being carried out in consultation with the boards, and is expected to be completed in the early part of the year.