§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what provisions exist to ensure that all babies requiring incubator-based care receive such care within the hospital in which they are being treated. [6031]
(2) what procedures exist to ensure that incubator-based care can be given in (a) a local hospital and (b) any other hospital. if all incubators in a given hospital are already occupied. [6032]
(3) what guidelines his Department issues in respect of the priority awarded for the treatment of babies experiencing anaphylactic shock who are deemed to require incubator-based care by their doctors. [6030]
§ Mr. HoramThe Department expects that sufficient incubators will be available in all units which provide care for new-born babies. It is the responsibility of local purchasers to ensure that the needs of their local population are met and that suitable arrangements are in place to provide support should facilities in any particular location be full.
Babies who are very sick, or are readmitted to hospital after discharge, would normally be expected to be treated in a neonatal or paediatric unit where a full range of services—including specialist cots for very small babies—would be provided.
Decisions on the treatment of children with anaphylactic shock, including the use of incubators—or specialist cots—if required, are clinical judgments.