§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list in the Official Report the paediatric consultant availability (a) in maternity units and (b) in reasonably close proximity to maternity units for each area health authority; if he will indicate any shortfall; and if he will make a statements;
(2) what action he has taken to improve the paediatric consultancy provision for neonates.
§ Mr. John PattenThe paediatric consultant availabilty in maternity units and in reasonably close proximity to maternity units and shortfall for each health and social services board area are as follows:
Consultant Availability Shortfall Eastern Board 13 3 Northern Board 1 1 Southern Board 2 1 Western board 2 - Three of the consultant paediatric surgeons in the eastern Board area provide a regional srevice to meet the needs of all boards.
The report of the advisory committee on infant mortality and handicap—the Baird report—in 1979 recommended an increased provision on the 14 Consultants in post. This has now increased to 18. A further three training posts in paediatrics have recently been approved. While this level of provision compares favourably with England and Wales, health and social services boards have accepted the recommendation of the Baird report and will continue to seek to improve paediatric staffing levels as resources permit.