§ Ms KinghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many pregnant women, in the Gloucestershire health authority area, were transferred to give birth in other counties because no special care baby cots were available in Gloucestershire, in(a) 1998–99 and (b) 1999–2000; [144979]
(2) how many babies were transferred from the Gloucestershire health authority area to hospitals in other counties, because no special care baby unit cots were available in Gloucestershire, in the years (a) 1998–99 and (b) 1999–2000. [144980]
§ Ms StuartThe requested information is not collected by the Department. Information received from Gloucestershire Royal National Health Service Trust on the numbers of pregnant women that have had to be transferred is that: in 1998, 12 women were transferred; in 1999, 23; and in 2000, 40. There were no transfers of babies.
East Gloucestershire NHS Trust is unable to provide details of the number of pregnant women that have had to be transferred, however, no babies were transferred.
My hon. Friend may wish to contact the chairs of the trusts for more information.