§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will obtain a report from the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board on the 222W withdrawal of accident and casualty services from Manor Hospital, Nuneaton, during the weekend of 29th–30th January; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonI understand from the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board that the accident and emergency department was closed for 24 hours from 9 a.m. on 29th January because of shortage of medical staff. Full publicity was given to the closure, and arrangements were made for ambulance cases to be taken during that period to Coventry or Leicester. A consultant was recently appointed to take charge of the department and an additional appointment of locum medical assistant has been made with effect from 4th February; efforts to recruit senior house officers are continuing. On steps to improve staffing generally, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Golding) on 19th November, 1971.—[Vol. 826, c.240–1.]