§ 10. Lord Balnielasked the Minister of Health what consideration is being 5 given to the future use of the smaller hospitals in the Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield district on the completion of the new Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield Hospital; and what consultations with local interests are to take place.
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Derek Walker-Smith)I understand that the work of both the small hospitals in Welwyn Garden City will be absorbed in the new hospital and that discussions are to take place in the autumn with the hospital management committee and the local general medical practitioners as to the part the latter can play in staffing the new hospital. The board proposes that one or both of the small hospitals might be used for the treatment of long term geriatric patients.