HC Deb 09 February 1971 vol 811 c118W
Mr. McGuire

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many wards in the Wigan, Leigh and District Hospital Management area have had to be closed down during the past 12 months because of a shortage of nurses or other staff; and what was the number and category of patients affected and the periods of closure.

Mr. Alison

Three, as follows:

being prescribed an invalid carriage and receiving the vehicle; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alison

Average times can be misleading because a variety of necessary procedures applies to different patients. The period between recommendation by a consultant and supply currently varies upwards from nine weeks. The average period for all cases is 24 weeks including those cases involving appeals and those where there are for example exceptional difficulties in arranging access to premises, battery charging facilities for the electric three-wheelers, garaging or where special modifications are needed to the three-wheelers themselves-special medical examinations of the patients may also be required for this purpose.