§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on the 1997 recommendations by Professor Donaldson's Medical Review Panel on(a) the development of a Provinceߝwide strategic plan for maternity services and (b) smaller obstetric units without 24 hour on-site paediatric cover. [74496]
§ Mr. McFallAs with other hospital services, strategic decisions about maternity services will be a matter for the new Northern Ireland Assembly. An analysis of the issues involved was contained in the paper "Putting it Right", which I presented to the Assembly on 14 December 1998. It envisages the concentration of acute hospital services, including maternity services, at Area and Regional level, supported by a network of local hospitals. Board reviews of acute hospital services, some of which have already taken place will be completed in the near future, will help to inform the Assembly's consideration of the issues involved.