§ Miss KirkbrideTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will define the term respite as it applies to an NHS hospital. [148755]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 5 February 2001]: The term accident and emergency respite or diversion is used to describe periods when, due to local peaks in demand or other circumstances, a national health service trust arranges for appropriate patients to be temporarily diverted to other local hospitals in line with local protocols. Central guidance makes it clear that no hospital may close to emergency admissions unilaterally.
§ Miss KirkbrideTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times, and for how long, Alexandra hospital has been on respite during December 2000 and January 2001. [148753]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 5 January 2001]: In line with national and local protocols for hospitals experiencing periods of heavy pressure in accident and emergency departments, the Alexandra Hospital requested that Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service national health service trust divert any appropriate patients to Worcester Royal Infirmary on three occasions in January 2001.
This was for a period of three hours on two occasions and for eight hours on one occasion. At no time did this involve closing the accident and emergency department and the number of patients affected was minimal. There were no occasions in December 2000.