§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in theOfficial Report a list of each obstetric unit for each area health authority showing for each year since 1979, the number of deliveries.
§ Mr. GristThe table gives the total number of births (live and still) in each maternity unit in Wales.
541W
Hospital 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 University Hospital of Wales 2,764 2,898 2,870 2,818 2,860 2,798 2,969 3,106 St. Davids 2,603 2,740 2,612 2,670 2,763 2,799 2,855 2,910 West Glamorgan District Health Authority Mount Pleasant 1,701 1,588 1,813 1,491 1,686 1,705 1,621 381 Gorseinon 308 241 188 226 160 162 110 88 Morriston 1,543 1,672 1,508 1,840 1,799 1,769 2,104 3,315 Neath General 1,836 2,008 1,831 1,747 1,711 1,641 1,693 1,762 Pembrokeshire District Health Authority Withybush General 1,295 1,305 1,436 1,473 1,397 1,421 1,415 1,396
§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will indicate for each obstetric unit in Wales whether there is an in-service training programme for(a) trainee anaesthetists; (b) non-consultant anaesthetists; (c) midwives and (d) supporting staff.
§ Mr. GristInformation on in-service training at each obstetric unit in Wales for the staff groups referred to is not held centrally. On a national basis, all anaesthetics posts established for junior medical staff in the training grades are designed to include appropriate training in neonatology and paediatric intensive care, and there is a statutory requirement for practising midwives to attend a refresher course every five years.
I understand that at the all-Wales level, the University of Wales college of medicine also provides courses for career grade non-consultant anaesthetists.
§ Mr. Gareth WardellTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will indicate for each obstetric unit in Wales whether the anaesthetic equipment includes(a) anaesthetic machine, (b) difficult intubation kit, (c) a DC defibrillator, (d) anaesthetic gas scavenging facilities, (e) an automatic pulmonary ventilator with disconnect alarm and (f) refrigerator for the storage of drugs;
(2) if he will indicate for each obstetric unit in Wales whether there is (a) an ECG monitor with recorder, (b) an inspired oxygen concentration meter, (c) an automatic blood pressure measuring device, (d) an end tidal carbon dioxide meter, (e) a peripheral nerve stimulator, (f) apparatus for measuring central venous pressure, (g) pulse aximeter, (h) blood storage refrigerator, (i) pressure infusion bags, (j) a blood warming device, (k) blood filters, (l) neonatal resuscitation equipment that includes a temperature measuring device; and neonatal equipment for maintaining the temperature of the neonate;
(3) if he will publish in the Official Report a list of each obstetric unit for each area health authority in Wales; and if he will indicate for each unit (a) whether there is a designated consultant anaesthetist whose duties include the organisation of an obstetric anaesthetist service and ensuring that the health authority is fully aware of any deficiencies in this service, (b) whether there is a consultant anaesthetist on-call and readily available on a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week basis, (c) whether suitable facilities for the storage of blood exists, (d) whether a quantity of group O Rh-ve blood is held, (e) whether there exists a 24 hour on-request epidural service, (f) whether an anaesthetic audit is undertaken; and (g) whether the equipment required in the labour suite and the obstetric theatre include an emergency electricity supply.
§ Mr. GristThese are matters of operational policy for the health authorities concerned and I suggest that the hon. Gentleman writes to the district general managers.