§ 24. Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his Department's current policy on maternity units in cottage and peripheral hospitals.
§ Mr. MoyleCurrent policy is to concentrate maternity beds in district general hospitals, where the full range of facilities to safeguard mother and baby are available. Cottage and peripheral hospitals will not usually have these facilities or resident obstetric and paediatric staff, although I accept that it may exceptionally be necessary to have maternity beds in such hospitals in order to spare mothers in labour the dangers and discomfort of a long journey.