§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many maternity units there are in National Health Service hospitals in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. MoyleIn 1975, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 682 National Health Service hospitals with maternity facilities in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many maternity units there are presently in (a) Gloucestershire and (b) West Gloucestershire.
§ Mr. MoyleThere are eight maternity units in Gloucestershire, of which two, Dilke Memorial Hospital, Cinderford and Lydney and District Hospital are in West Gloucestershire.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Depart-
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§ Mr. MoyleFigures for England and Wales are as follows:
Deaths Still-births Under 1 day 1 to 6 day 1944 … 21,306 6,546 6,552 1954 … 16,200 5,098 4,950 1964 … 14,546 6,230 4,307 1974 … 7,175 3,328 2,666 1975 … 6,295 2,992 2,482 1976* … 5,700 N/a N/a * Estimated. N/a = Not available.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many babies were still-born in the Forest of Dean in 1976, 1975, 1966, 1956 and 1946.
§ Mr. MoyleThe numbers of stillbirths, classified by area of residence of the mother, are as follows:
ment offers any advice to area health authorities on the future of maternity units in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. MoyleThe consultative document "Priorities for Health and Personal Social Services in England" suggested that health authorities should rationalise maternity provision to improve standards of care and make the best use of resources, and that wherever possible maternity beds should be concentrated in district general hospitals, where the full range of facilities to safeguard mothers and babies is available.