§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds have been earmarked for personnel suffering injuries in a possible war in the Gulf in the area health authorities for(a) Sunderland, (b) Durham and (c) Hartlepool; and what assessment has been made on the consequential effects upon local waiting lists.
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§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if Wythenshawe and Withington hospitals, the Manchester Royal infirmary and Stockport infirmary are included in contingency plans for the treatment of air-lifted casualties to the United Kingdom in the event of international conflict in the Gulf; what effect this emergency use of hospitals will have on local patients; if extra resources are being or will be made available to the hospitals; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the current number of closed beds in national health service hospitals in the Greater London area; and how many are now available for casualties arising from a war with Iraq;
(2) if he will identify the national health service hospitals, number of wards and number of beds in Greater London earmarked for possible casualties in the event of a war with Iraq;
(3) how many beds currently closed in Newham health district have been earmarked for use by casualties in the event of war with Iraq; and who will pay for such beds being brought back into use in such circumstances.
§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has, by region, to ensure that the contingency plans for the national health service dealing with casualties of the Gulf crisis in the event of war have no adverse effect on existing waiting lists.
§ Mr. DorrellThe reception of Gulf casualties will inevitably increase the emergency workload of the National Health Service. We are confident that the health authorities can deal adequately with the increased emergency workload, though some non-emergency admissions may need to be deferred. We do not expect this to be a long term affect and we hope to restore normal level of service as soon as possible.
Health authorities' plans for dealing with casualties from hostilities in the Gulf involve hospitals throughout the NHS. It is for health authorities to allocate cases to particular hospitals and information on which hospitals are being used is not available centrally.
As my right hon. Friend announced yesterday, we will provide extra money to meet the full costs of any Gulf casualties. We have told health authorities that they should spend what is necessary and we are giving guidance on how to account for and reclaim Gulf costs. This means that health authorities will be able to continue to use all the money in their normal allocations for their normal workload.
The Department does not routinely collect information on bed closures, as this is not a good indicator of levels of service in the NHS.
§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what extra resources will be made available to health authorities dealing with casualties of the Gulf crisis in the event of war.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional resources he is making available to the national health service in the event of war with Iraq.
§ Mr. WaldegraveHealth authorities will be given extra money to cover the full cost of treating any casualties from war in the Gulf. We are sending health authorities guidance on how to account for this.
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§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give, by region, the number of national health service beds to be made available in proposals to deal with casualties of the Gulf crisis in the event of war.
§ Mr. DorrellWe would make available such beds as are needed. Our plans envisage that all 14 regions, and at regional discretion a number of hospitals within each region, should share in the treatment of casualties.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has received on the likely number of casualties to be handled by the national health service arising from a war with Iraq.
§ Mr. DorrellCasualty estimates are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many private hospitals have(a) offered assistance and (b) been earmarked to receive casualties in the event of war with Iraq.
§ Mr. DorrellHealth authorities will take whatever action they think appropriate, including using private hospitals, to ensure that any Gulf casualties can be treated quickly and effectively.