§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many casualty departments in all hospitals in the metropolitan regional areas, normally open 24 hours a day, that were open throughout that period and closed for any period for each of the days of September, 1971.
§ Mr. AlisonOf the 104 major accident and emergency departments in these areas which would normally be open 24 hours a day, 92 were open throughout September,390W 1971; three remained closed throughout the month and one was closed permanently during the month; two were closed during certain periods to ambulance cases of one or both sexes or children but remained open to other patients. The remaining six all closed at some time during the month; on two days all six were open throughout the 24 hours and at no time during the month were more than two of the six closed at the same time. The majority of these closures were at night.