§ Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, as the only patients who may at present be admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, for open heart surgery are those who would die within a few months without this treatment, whether she will carry out an inquiry into the priorities in the allocation of the money available in other parts of the National Health Service, with a view to assisting the increased provision of this form of surgery.
§ Dr. OwenNo. It is for regional and area health authorities to take account of local needs and provide a balanced overall service within the resources made available to them. I see no justification for pressing on them the development of this service in particular.