§ 56 and 57. Mr. Parkerasked the Minister of Health (1) what was the date on which the trial of the mobile intensive care team commenced in Birmingham, the area and population covered by the trial, and the names of the hospitals involved in the experiment; and what proportion of patients is being admitted into intensive care units under consultant cardiologists, and what proportion into general wards under general physicians;
(2) with regard to the trial of the mobile intensive care team in Birmingham, if he will state the amount of capital that was required for the introduction of the test scheme, the estimated annual cost of its maintenance, the number of additional medical, nursing, ambulance, technical and clerical staff required to put the scheme into operation, and the annual cost of the salaries of this additional staff.
§ Mr. SnowThe trial started on 1st August, 1968 and co-operating general practitioners are in 14 wards in the north of Birmingham which cover a population of about half a million. The hospitals involved are the General Hospital, Birmingham, and the Dudley Road Hospital. All patients with a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction are admitted into an intensive coronary care area under consultant cardiologists. The initial cost of monitoring and resuscitating equipment for the trial was about £1,000 but the total cost of the trial cannot yet be estimated. Two research 81W fellows are available for calls but no other staff have been specifically appointed for the trial.