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Casualty And Accident Units

Volume 923: debated on Monday 20 December 1976

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asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report details of casualty and accident units which have been closed at weekends on Merseyside over the past six months to date.

Accident and emergency units at the following hospitals on Merseyside were closed at weekends on the dates shown:

Liverpool Royal Infirmary

7 p.m. 10th September—9 am. 11th September

9 p.m. 5th December—9 a.m. 6th December

9 a.m. 10th December—7 P.m. 10th December

9 a.m. 11th December—10 p.m. 11th December

8 a.m. 12th December—9 a.m. 12th December

2 p.m. 13th December—7 p.m. 13th December

Royal Southern Hospital

10th October for a short period

3 p.m. 6th November—6 a.m. 7th November

10 a.m. 4th December—3 p.m. 5th December

Victoria Central Hospital

29th May to 21st November inclusive

Birkenhead General Hospital

Noon 14th August—9 a.m. 16th August

9 a.m. 28th August—9 a.m. 30th August

Clatterbridge Hospital

21st—23rd August

St. Helen's Hospital

18th/19th September evening and early morning.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the concern expressed at the lack of adequate weekend coverage of casualty and accident units in Liverpool hospitals, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Scotland Exchange.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations have been made to his Department concerning closure of casualty units in Liverpool hospitals.

My Department has not received any representations concerning closure of casualty units in Liverpool hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the casualty department weekend arrangements at Liverpool hospitals dealing with emergency cases.

Yes, I am satisfied that, though the services at some hospitals has occasionally been discontinued at weekends owing to medical staffing difficulties, adequate cover is being maintained for the Liverpool area.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if cuts in public expenditure have had any effect on the staffing and operation of casualty and accident units in Merseyside hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his Department's policy on the coverage of casualty and emergency units in hospitals at weekends.

The organisation of accident and emergency services in any area is the responsibility of the health authority concerned. In recognition of staffing problems at weekends, departmental guidance has suggested the possibility of accident and emergency departments which are not inconveniently distant from each other remaining open in rotation.