§ Lord Cocks of Hartcliffeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What consideration has been given to the funding of trauma centres in the light of the report of the Royal College of Surgeons of England on the Commission of the Provision of Surgical Services, November 1988.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Hooper)In their response to consultation on this report, a wide range of professional bodies and authorities supported evaluation of this form of service provision prior to decisions being taken as to whether a national programme would be appropriate. It has therefore been decided to evaluate a trauma centre in one region. Regional health authorities have accordingly been asked to submit applications by 6th March for additional funding of up to £570,000 to be used to aid one potential trauma centre as part of an evaluation programme to be undertaken by Professor Brian Williams of Sheffield Unviersity.