§ Mr. NellistTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is his estimate of the number of children currently waiting for heart surgery at each of the regional centres for heart operations in the United Kingdom; what is the average waiting time; what is the longest waiting time; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many intensive care beds there are at each regional centre for children's heart surgery in the United Kingdom; how many are currently usable and how many stand idle; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonInformation on the number of children waiting for heart surgery is not collected centrally. The 471W number of urgent cases is likely to vary from day to day. In most cases intensive care beds for babies and children are used for a range of conditions. It is not, therefore, possible to say how many are available specifically for heart surgery.