§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what financial assistance is available to pregnant women to cover the cost of transport to and from antenatal clinics.
§ Mr. DeakinsPatients attending clinics providing National Health Service hospital services can be helped with146W what percentage this was of central Government expenditure and of the gross national product, respectively.
§ Mr. MoyleEstimated expenditure by health authorities in England on obstetric in-patient and out-patient services and on midwifery services is set out below. The figures exclude the cost of providing postnatal care in special care baby units and general health service expenditure—for example, ambulances and health visitors.
travelling expenses where otherwise the payment of such expenses would cause hardship as assessed by supplementary benefit standards. Leaflet H11, which is available at hospitals and local social security offices, gives more information, and I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend. Occasional help may also be available from hospital trust funds.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting time between a woman's visit to her general practitioner and her first appointment at an antenatal clinic.
§ Mr. MoyleThis information is not collected centrally, but I would expect the waiting time to vary depending on a number of factors such as the stage of pregnancy at which a woman makes arrangements for her confinement and her previous medical and obstetric history, and the role the general practitioner is undertaking in the provision of antenatal care.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision is made for non-English speaking women at antenatal clinics.
§ Mr. MoyleIt is for health authorities to make such arrangements as may be appropriate locally. I am aware, however, that there are problems in some places and I am looking into the possibility of giving advice on good practice.