§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will make a statement on the recent closure of the casualty unit at the Liverpool Royal Infirmary, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Scotland Exchange;
(2) if he is satisfied with the present casualty cover in the inner Liverpool area hospitals.
§ Mr. MoyleI understand from the Liverpool Area Health Authority (Teaching) that on a few occasions recently the accident and emergency service at the Liverpool Royal Infirmary has had to be suspended because of difficulty in obtaining locum cover for a senior house officer post which has been vacant since November 1977. At such times a service has been maintained from other hospitals in the area and medical staff in the infirmary have been available to deal with emergencies when necessary. A full-time senior house officer is to be appointed from 1st April 1978. The authority consider the general level of accident and emergency cover to be adequate.