§ Mr. Speedasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what alternative specialist treatment and 432W transport arrangements exist for patients in south-east Kent in the event of transfer of the neurological services at the Brook hospital.
§ Mrs. CurrieIn the event of the transfer of the neurological service at the Brook hospital, medical manpower will be deployed more effectively so that outpatient sessions in local hospitals will be increased. Steps will also be taken to provide a high standard of training to cope with head injuries in all major accident and emergency departments to which patients are first referred.
The Brook and Maudsley hospitals are no more than seven miles apart, an additional journey of about 15 minutes on average for patients from south-east Kent who would continue to be conveyed to the new location by the ambulance service.