§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what discussions were undertaken by the Newcastle Hospital Board with the National Association for the Welfare of Children, with the Hartlepool Borough Council, or any other body, before a decision was made to discontinue treatment of in-patients in ear, nose and throat cases, at St. Hilda's Hospital, Hartlepool;
239W(2) what factors were taken into account by the Newcastle Hospital Board before the decision was made to terminate in-patient treatment of ear, nose and throat cases at St. Hilda's Hospital, Hartlepool.
§ Mr. SnowNo such decision has yet been taken by the Regional Hospital Board. If it is, interested local bodies will be consulted before it is put into effect.
§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children received treatment in the Ear, Nose and Throat Unit. St. Hilda's Hospital, Hartlepool, during the last year; how many received treatment at Middlesbrough; and what staff is available at Middlesbrough to provide the treatment.
§ Mr. SnowFigures are not available precisely in the form requested. 269 in-patients, mostly children, were treated by the removal of tonsils and adenoids during the period 1st January, 1968 to 30th September, 1968 at St. Hilda's Hospital, Hartlepool, and 1,494 during the same period at the North Riding Infirmary, Middlesbrough. The medical staff available at the latter hospital comprises three consultants, two registrars, two senior house officers and two general practitioner clinical assistants, some of whom provide sessions at the former.
§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many inpatients are receiving treatment at the Ear, Nose and Throat Unit at St. Hilda's Hospital, Hartlepool; how many of these are below the age of 10 years; and what are the figures for 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967.
§ Mr. SnowOn 20th November, 22 of whom 13 were under the age of 10. The information is not available for earlier years, but the number of in-patients, mostly children, who were treated by the removal of tonsils and adenoids were 550 700, 715 and 493 in the years 1964 to 1967 respectively.
§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what area is served by the Ear, Nose and Throat Unit of St. Hilda's Hospital, Hartlepool; what is the number of in-patients being treated from within the county borough boun- 240W dary of Hartlepool; how many from outside the boundary; and what staff is employed to provide the treatment.
§ Mr. SnowHartlepool County Borough and part of Easington and Stockton Rural Districts. On 20th November 16 in-patients were being treated from within the County Borough and six from outside. The medical staff comprises one consultant, one registrar, one senior house officer and one general practitioner clinical assistant, all providing varying numbers of sessions.