§ John MannTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will ensure that premature babies at Guys and St. Thomas' Hospital receiving preventative treatment for respiratory syncytial virus are not discharged without assurance that they will be able to return to the hospital as required to complete their course of treatment; [136926]
(2) if he will ensure that premature babies at Guys and St. Thomas' Hospital at high risk of contracting respiratory syncytial virus and chronic lung disease do not have their treatment curtailed due to cost cutting requirements; [136927]
(3) how many paediatric wards were closed to new admissions owing to respiratory syncytial virus infection in the last year for which records are available. [136928]
§ Mr. HuttonIt is the current view of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation that children less than two years of age with severe chronic lung disease and who are on home oxygen during the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season should receive prophylactic treatment during the respiratory syncytial virus season. I am assured by Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital National Health Service Trust that it will continue to provide full courses of the prophylactic treatment for these children.
Information on the number of wards closed to new admissions owing to RSV is not collected centrally.