§ 59 Mr Nelsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what measures he is taking to ensure the continued provision of health services in areas which have suffered damage and disruption from the storms on the night of the 15–16 October.
§ Mrs. CurrieOfficials were in contact with health authorities in the south and east throughout Friday 16 October and monitored the situation throughout. It soon became clear that everything possible was being done to maintain health services and patient care despite damage to buildings and public utilities and disruption of communications and transport in many places.
The splendid response of hospital and ambulance staff in finding alternative means of getting to work and in many cases giving up their off-duty time ensured adequate staffing levels. Ambulance services were hard pressed but their problems lessened as roads were cleared and communications were restored. Fortunately there were no major incidents involving multiple serious casualties.
Emergency arrangements were made for a few patients requiring artifical ventilation or home dialysis. Where power supplies failed hospitals turned to their standby generators or to portable versions supplied by the Army.
It was necessary to curtail or postpone some out-patient clinics because of damage or transport problems. Some non-emergency operations were postponed to ease severe pressure on the South London blood transfusion centre. Blood donors responded to appeals, allowing the full blood supply to be resumed within a few days.
I was particularly glad that the Department had surveyed health authorities' contingency plans earlier this year and found them to be generally satisfactory. This form of monitoring will continue and we will consider any lessons learnt in the recent episode.