§ 53. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Minister of Health whether, in cases in which the closure of, or withdrawal of, National Health Service support from a hospital is contemplated, he will provide an opportunity by way of public inquiry for the views of those affected to be put forward and considered by an independent person.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that if the Minister of Transport wants to close a railway station, the people concerned have a right to state their case at a public inquiry? Why, when an unelected hospital board proposes to close a hospital, should not the ordinary citizen affected have a similar right to state his point of view to an independent person? Is he aware that my constituents, in the case of St. Teresa's Wimbledon, will simply not accept closure on the unsupported views of Lord Addison?
§ Mr. SnowThere is not, and as far as I am aware there has never been, any suggestion to close St. Teresa's Hospital. Since there is another side to this coin, may I draw to the attention of the right hon. Gentleman, who I know looks at these matters objectively, to a letter which was published in the edition of the British Medical Journal of the 17th instant, page 767, from a consultant—a Roman Catholic—from the same hospital?