§ Ms JowellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in the accident and emergency departments in(a) King's College hospital, (b) Bart's, (c) Guy's, (d) St. Thomas's, (e) the Royal Free, (f) Whittington and (g) University College hospital were unable to be accommodated in beds in wards suitable for their conditions on the day on which they were admitted for the week beginning 28 February.
§ Dr. MawhinneyIt is the responsibility of national health service trusts and authority boards to make appropriate provision for accident and emergency cases including short term fluctuations in the emergency workload. Sir Duncan Nichol wrote to NHS managers in January making this a priority issue. The hon. Member may wish to write to the chairmen of the trusts and authroities for detailed information on the arrangements they have made and the weekly performance of the hospitals concerned.