Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will request a report from the Chair of the Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust on how many press officers were employed by Southend University Hospital in each of the last two years and what the average cost was of employing each of those press officers; and if he will make a statement.

These are operational matters for the Foundation Trust.

We have written to Alan Tobias OBE, Chair of the Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust informing him of the hon. Member’s enquiry. He will reply shortly and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.