§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals are designated to accept potential casualties from any conflict in Iraq. [102381]
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the number of beds in national health service hospitals which are being prepared in anticipation of casualties from hostilities in the Gulf; and what proposals he has to fund them. [100412]
§ Mr. HuttonThere are no plans to ask hospitals to set aside specific beds in anticipation of any conflict in Iraq. We plan to operate a rotation of airports across the UK to which casualties will be returned and, as a result, make use of beds from a wider range of hospitals.
§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the impact on the NHS of the use of medical and nursing reservists in the event of conflict in Iraq. [102428]
§ Mr. HuttonMedical reservists are being called out from a number of national health service organisations across the country. The NHS bodies concerned are developing plans to deal with the loss of staff, and we are working closely with the Ministry of Defence to ensure that the effects of call outs are kept to a minimum.