§ Mrs. Audrey Wiseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many National Health Service medical neurosciences centres there are; how many are in the West Midlands region; how many have a computed axial tomography scanner; which centres they are; and why Coventry has no such machine.
§ Mr. MoyleThere are neurology departments in 131 National Health Service hospitals in England—nine of them in the West Midlands—and neurosurgery departments in 52—five in the West Midlands. Two West Midlands hospitals—the Midland Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Birmingham, and the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary in Stoke on Trent—have a computed axial tomography scanner—brain scanner. Scanners are normally installed to provide a regional or sub-regional service, and their location is a matter for regional and aria health authorities to determine in the light of local needs. I understand that the West Midlands Regional Health Authority has agreed to make a substantial contribution towards the capital cost of a brain 111W scanner for the Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry and to meet its running costs for the year 1978–79.