§ Sir John GorstTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how(a) his Department and (b) Barnet health authority define emergency in the context of acute needs provision. [4685]
§ Mr. HoramClinical practice varies throughout the national health service. Different health authorities and hospitals use the term "emergency" in different ways.
701W
§ Sir John GorstTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what differences there are between his Department's and local health authorities' definitions of acute beds and immediate needs bends. [4686]
§ Mr. HoramThe definition of acute beds for central data collection purposes includes beds in children's and adult general wards, excluding geriatric wards; beds for the younger physically disabled; neonatal cots that are not in maternity wards; and beds in wards for terminally ill/palliative care patients. Central data on immediate needs beds is not collected. The information in central returns provides a useful guide to bed availability; it does not reflect precise clinical practice.
§ Sir John GorstTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 4 November,Official Report, column 402, what is Barnet health authority's definition of acute care. [4688]