§ Mr. Carter-Jones asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the number of specialist paediatric surgeons in each area health authority per 1,000 births; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John Patten:In Northern Ireland there are three specialist paediatric surgeons, all based in the Eastern Health and Social Services Board area, which represents for the whole of Northern Ireland 0.1 specialist paediatric surgeon per 1,000 births or one specialist paediatric surgeon per 9,616 births. This compares favourably with the ratio recommended in the report of the Committee on Child Health Services, the Court Report—"Fit for the Future." There are at present no vacant posts and no plans to increase the number of specialist paediatric surgeons.