Hospital Patients (Telephone Inquiries)

HC Deb 21 January 1998 vol 304 cc594-5W

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average time taken for a telephone inquiry to be dealt with in respect of locating a patient (a) for all hospitals in the UK and (b) at Leicester Royal Infirmary; and what steps he proposes to decrease this time. [23192]

Mr. Milburn

Information on telephone inquiries dealt with by hospitals is not collected centrally.

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines exist for dealing with telephone inquiries at(a) all major hospitals and (b) Leicester Royal Infirmary in respect of the locating of patients within hospitals. [23190]

Mr. Milburn

There are no guidelines for dealing with telephone inquiries at all major hospitals. With regards to guidelines for the Leicester Royal Infirmary National Health Service Trust, Professor David Barnett has been asked to write to my hon. Friend with this information as soon as possible.