HC Deb 01 March 1971 vol 812 cc350-1W
Sir R. Russell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent the casualty departments of hospitals normally have on duty a doctor capable of performing a tracheotomy operation.

Sir K. Joseph

Major accident and emergency departments are expected to be staffed and equipped to deal with serious injuries and other emergencies at any hour of the day or night and would normally have a doctor on duty capable of performing this operation. In the case of other casualty departments there would normally be such a doctor on call.