HC Deb 16 April 2002 vol 383 cc921-2W
Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time is for an intensive care baby incubator in London NHS hospitals at the latest date for which figures are available. [46688]

Mr. Hutton

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: The Department does not collect information on the average waiting times for intensive care baby incubators.

Intensive care baby incubators are always available for sick babies.

Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the availability of intensive care baby incubators in London NHS hospitals; and what measures are being taken to increase availability. [46686]

Mr. Hutton

[holding answer 10 April 2002]: In 1999 the London Health Authority chief executives convened a steering group to oversee a review of neonatal intensive care services in London. A discussion document was published in September 2001 which set out proposals for modernising the provision of neonatal intensive care for London. This also included the revised standards recently published by the British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM). Copies of the discussion document have been placed in the Library.

A number of initial consultation meetings have been undertaken to agree on next steps which include establishing managed clinical networks and determining the levels of care to be provided within the networks. This work is currently in progress.