Written question asked by Bob Spink (Conservative) on Wednesday, 3 July 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 15 July 2002. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Monday, 15 July 2002 on behalf of the Department of Health.

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Dept of Health

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on the co-ordination of neonatal intensive care with the paediatric surgical sub-specialisation of (a) cleft lip and palate, (b) ophthalmology and (c) otolaryngology; what his policy is on establishing a set of national care standards for neonatal intensive care; what his policy is on the recruitment, retention and career progression of neonatal intensive care nurses; what assessment he makes of the staffing levels for doctors and nurses in neonatal intensive care; and what plans he has to increase these; how the needs of sick or premature new-born infants are categorised in the NHS; and what changes he proposes to make to these; what assessment he has made of the availability of capacity to meet demand in neonatal intensive care; what his policy is on the co-ordination of neonatal intensive care with the paediatric sub-specialisation of (a) cardiology, (b) neurosurgery, (c) neurology, (d) nephrology, (e) radiology, (f) hepatology, (g) gastro-enterology, (h) endocrinology and (i) haematology; what arrangements he will make to build networks to facilitate and exchange information on research into neonatal intensive care; what assessment he makes of the impact of restrictions on hours of work for junior doctors on the provision of neonatal intensive care; what action he plans to make available statistics on types of treatment given and outcomes in neonatal intensive care other than mortality; what action he intends to take to improve the co-ordination between neonatal intensive care facilities and general maternity facilities in the NHS; what provisions are made in the NHS for parents of sick or premature new-born infants who require neonatal intensive care; what assessment he has made of the changes needed in the organisation of neonatal intensive care; and if he will make a statement.

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Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

389 c120W; 67662;67671;67672;67667;67668;67675;67663;67664;67673;67674;67669;67670;67661

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Career development Babies Doctors Resident doctors Heart diseases NHS Medical treatments Parents Recruitment Nurses Staff Ophthalmology Standards Working hours Surgery Research Intensive care Neurology Paediatrics Baby care units Haematology

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk