HC Deb 19 June 1997 vol 296 cc300-1W
Mr. Charles Clarke

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria his Department currently lays down for health authorities on accessibility to 24-hour accident and emergency facilities in urban areas. [4523]

Mr. Milburn

It is the responsibility of health authorities to decide what facilities are needed in their area, taking account of varying local conditions.

In addition, on 29 October 1996 the NHS Chief Executive wrote to the Chief Executives of all health authorities and NHS trusts reminding them that their first priority was to meet pressures on emergency services. He went on to say that it is a fundamental expectation that accident and emergency departments must not close to emergency admissions. He stressed this point again last week in a speech to the Conference of the Institute of Health Service Managers

Mr. Clarke

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the towns and cities in Britain, with a population greater than 50,000, which currently have no NHS 24-hour accident and emergency service within their boundaries. [4512]

Mr. Milburn

In 1995–96 there were 211 National Health Service trusts, special health authorities and directly managed units with large accident and emergency departments. We do not hold information on which towns and cities have accident and emergency departments within their boundaries.

1Source: The NHS Performance Guide 1995–96.