§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has as to the number of children in each English region who did not receive paediatric intensive care owing to the shortage of such beds.
§ Dr. MawhinneyInformation on which to base such an estimate is not available centrally. Decisions on the referral of critically ill children are taken by clinicians in the light of the condition of the child and the proximity of available treatment facilities. A survey carried out by the British Paediatric Association in connection with preparation of the report, "The Care of Critically Ill Children" showed that, in 1991, 51 per cent. of children receiving intensive care were treated in dedicated paediatric intensive care units, 29 per cent. in high dependency beds in children's wards and 20 per cent. in adult intensive care units. Copies of the report are available in the Library.
The Department, in collaboration with appropriate professional bodies, will act on the recommendation in the report, for outcomes for children requiring paediatric intensive care to be audited to provide this information for the future.
§ Ms PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to set targets for the number of paediatric intensive care unit beds in each of the next five years.
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§ Dr. MawhinneyThe recently published report from the British Paediatric Association, "The Care of Critically Ill Children", copies of which are available in the Library, offers recommendations on the number and distribution of paediatric intensive care beds required to take account of developments in this highly specialised area of child health care. Health authorities will be asked to draw up plans for an effective and co-ordinated response to this report and these may include locally determined targets.