§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children admitted to hospital have been treated on adult wards in the last year; and what percentage this represents of total children patients.
§ Mr. SackvilleThis information is not available centrally.
§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what number and percentage of children receiving intensive care in the last year were treated in adult intensive care units.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThis information is not available centrally. A survey carried out by the British Paediatric Association in connection with preparation of the report "The Care of Critically Ill Children", copies of which are available in the Library, showed that, in 1991, a total of 12,822 children received intensive care, of whom 2,627—20.5 per cent.—children were treated in adult intensive care units. We are taking action to improve the availability of paediatric intensive care facilities, and we will be issuing guidance to health authorities early in the new year.