HC Deb 16 April 1996 vol 275 cc472-3W
17. Mr. Kevin Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations he has undertaken into the future provision of accident and emergency departments. [23481]

Mr. Horam

Following my right hon. Friend's statement to the House on 6 March,Official Report, columns 356–68, we expect widespread consultation to be held at local level about the provision of accident and emergency services.

24. Sir Michael Neubert

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response he has received to his recent guidance to health authorities on the provision of accident and emergency services in the north-east Thames region. [23488]

Mr. Horam

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked the chief executive of the national health service, Mr. Alan Langlands, to report to him at the end of June, and again at the end of September on health authorities' plans for emergency services. Responses from individual health authorities and NHS trusts are being co-ordinated by the regional offices of the NHS executive.

Mr. Gapes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instruct the NHS executive to investigate the comparative rates of admission into the accident and emergency departments at(a) Oldchurch hospital, Romford and (b) King George hospital, Goodmayes. [24789]

Mr. Horam

This would be a matter for the Barking and Havering and the Redbridge and Waltham Forest health authorities.

Mr. Gapes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of accident and emergency admissions at(a) Oldchurch hospital, Romford and (b) King George hospital, Goodmayes, took place within two hours of arrival, in the last year for which figures are available. [24788]

Mr. Horam

Information is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Geoffrey Jennings OBE and Mr. Michael J. Smith, respectively, the chairmen of Havering Hospitals NHS trust and Redbridge Healthcare NHS trust for further information.

Mr. Dykes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the range of accident and emergency facilities available to the public in NHS hospitals located in the outer London boroughs, subsequent to the changes planned for April 1997. [23810]

Mr. Horam

It is the responsibility of local health authorities, working together with local national health service trusts, to ensure that adequate facilities and services are in place to meet the accident and emergency needs of the local populace.