§ Ms PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines apply in relation to minimum nursing and medical staffing levels in paediatric and neo-natal units.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe "Welfare of Children and Young People in Hospital", issued by the Department in July 1991 set the objective that a consultant paediatrician and at least two children's trained nurses should be available 24 hours a day to supervise the care of sick children and newborn babies and that provision of additional specially trained medical, midwifery and nursing staff should be commensurate to the degree of dependency of these children. The guide also commended additional guidance 851W available from the English National Board for Nursing Midwifery and Health Visiting and the British Paediatric Association.