§ Mr. Franksasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children died in hospitals outside the South Cumbria health authority area, where they had been transferred by the authority for treatment for each of the past five years; and what plans he has to enable the families of deceased children to recover the costs of returning the body for burial within the authority.
§ Mrs. CurrieInformation on the numbers of children normally resident in South Cumbria who have died in hospitals outside the health authority's area is not available in precisely the form requested, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. My hon. Friend may wish to write for information to the chairman of South Cumbria health authority.
Health authorities already can pay for the transport of a body where the death occurs in a hospital some distance from home if the relatives wish the burial to be in their home area but are unable to meet the costs of transport. Each case is considered on its merits by the health authority involved, but general guidance is contained in HM(72)41, a copy of which is in the Library.