Mr. John M. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many 24 hour accident and emergency departments there were in the West Midlands region on(a) 31 December 1970 and (b) 31 December 1999. [105989]
§ Ms StuartOn 31 December 1999 there were 21 24-hour accident and emergency departments in the West Midlands region.
The figure for 31 December 1970 is not available. Changes in the configuration of health services and in the definition of what constitutes an accident and emergency department have altered significantly over the last 30 years.