§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what alternative arrangements apply in circumstances when a major hospital is closed to admissions and victims of major accidents; and if he will make a statement. [1151]
§ Mr. SackvilleSuch closures are infrequent and generally of short duration. If national health service hospital trusts have to place restrictions on the cases that they can deal with, they should collaborate with health authorities, ambulance services and other hospitals to ensure that appropriate contingency measures are in place.