§ Ms. HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state for each regional health authority(a) in 1983 and (b) the latest figures available (i) the number of live births, (ii) the number of births of babies less than 1,000 grams, (iii) the number of special care baby cots and (iv) the number of babies under 1,000 grams per special care baby cot.
§ Mr. FreemanThe figures are shown in the tables.
(i) Total live births: area of usual residence Regional Health Authority 1983 1988 Northern 39,117 40,105 Yorkshire 46,507 49,972 Trent 57,165 61,618 East Anglia 23,075 26,600 North West Thames 45,596 50,639 North East Thames 49,894 56,466 South East Thames 44,007 51,402 South West Thames 34,688 39,258 Wessex 33,044 37,942 Oxford 30,948 35,698 South Western 35,523 40,981 West Midlands 68,224 72,809 Mersey 31,850 33,515 North Western 53,617 57,358 414W
(ii) Livebirths less than 1,000 grams RHA 1983 1988 Northern 145 102 Yorkshire 186 172 Trent 243 167 East Anglia 70 58 North West Thames 165 165 North East Thames 199 199 South East Thames 164 195 South West Thames 124 121 Wessex 98 84 Oxford 134 105 South Western 124 134 West Midlands 297 287 Mersey 123 106
RHA 1983 1988 North Western 226 190
(iii) Number of special and neonatal intensive care cots RHA 1983 1987–88 Northern 307 258 Yorkshire 333 324 Trent 348 321 East Anglia 139 134 North West Thames 299 280 North East Thames 333 295 South East Thames 292 266 South West Thames 205 185 Wessex 195 178 Oxford 190 193 South Western 201 198 West Midlands 449 395 Mersey 190 166 North Western 377 333 Special Health Authorities 40 47 Source: 1983: SH3—Special Care Baby Unit Cots
1987–88 Form KHO3—Neonatal cots not in maternity units (including regionally designated intensive care cots)
(iv) Number of live births under 1,000 grams divided by the number of special and neonatal intensive care cots Regional Health Authority 1983 1988 Northern 0.5 0.4 Yorkshire 0.6 0.5 Trent 0.7 0.5 East Anglia 0.5 0.4 North West Thames 0.6 0.6 North East Thames 0.6 0.7 South East Thames 0.6 0.7 South West Thames 0.6 0.7 Wessex 0.5 0.5 Oxford 0.7 0.5 South Western 0.6 0.7 West Midlands 0.7 0.7 Mersey 0.6 0.6 North Western 0.6 0.6 Note: Although the information is provided as requested, it is not a 415W reliable measure of the use made of special and neonatal intensive care provision. For example, it does not take into account the facilities provided by the Special Health Authorities nor that special and neonatal intensive care facilities are provided to some babies born weighing over 1,000 grams.