§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will institute an inquiry into the death of the patient from Slough who received cardiac surgery at the University hospital of Wales, Cardiff on Friday 7 July, into the shortage of intensive care beds allied with open heart surgery facilities and into the lack of a hospital to hospital information on bed availability. [33837]
§ Mr. SackvilleI have no plans to institute such an inquiry.
A study commissioned by the Department of Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine has shown that demand for intensive care beds can very and in some instances, beds are being used inappropriately.
The need for guidelines on admission to, and discharge from, intensive care is being considered by the Department of Health, together with representatives of the medical profession.