§ Mr. Norman Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his assessment of the size of population and location factors in a busy London borough against which he would consider it necessary for such an area to have an accident and emergency hospital department of its own.
609W
§ Mr. MoyleResponsibility for the provision of accident and emergency departments in any area rests with the health authority concerned subject to broad guidelines issued by the Department. Authorities have been advised that major accident and emergency departments should serve a population of at least 150,000. In main urban areas such as London departments will often serve populations much greater than this.