§ Mr. Hordernasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many births have taken place at Horsham Hospital in each of the last 10 years; how many at Crawley hospital; and how many babies and mothers have died in childbirth at each hospital.
§ Mr. Moyle:Information relating to live births is as follows:
Year Horsham Hospital Crawley Hospital 1968 486 1,363 1969 450 1,414 1970 422 1,536 1971 447 1,533 1972 466 1,538 1973 364 1,507 1974 361* 1,392* 1975 291 1,375 1976 281 1,562 1977 246 1,637 *Estimate (accurate statistics not collected for this year). Information relating to maternal and neonatal deaths is not readily available for the period requested. Since 1st January 1971 there has been one maternal death at Crawley hospital and none at Horsham. Since 1st Apirl 1974, there have been 44 neonatal deaths at Crawley hospital and none at Horsham hospital. These figures are affected by the referral of difficult cases to Crawley hospital.