§ 1. Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospitals in the Wessex area are likely to be closed in the next five years as a result of Her Majesty's Government's current policy.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Dr. David Owen)This information is not available. Health authorities are presently undertaking a comprehensive review of their existing plans, which might lead to proposals regarding closures. The area health authorities concerned would, of course, consult their local community health council on any such proposals.
§ Mr. AdleyIs the Minister aware that the announcement over the weekend that 206 the Government are reviewing the policy of hospital construction so as to revert to a policy of retaining and even building smaller hospitals will be very welcome to many of my constituents? Will he make a further announcement on that subject today? If it is so, will he confirm that no hospitals that might have been closed if present policy had remained unchanged will be closed if there is this change of policy? Will he also give me today, or in writing, soon, a specific pledge that Lymington Hospital will in no circumstances be closed?
§ Dr. OwenI understand that Hampshire Area Health Authority has no plans at the present time to close Lymington Hospital.
As to the wider question of very large hospitals, there is considerable agreement on both sides of the House that this is a prospect which is not always supported by the patients and consumers. At a time of financial stringency. I think there is a need to reappraise the whole of our hospital building programme.
§ Dr. VaughanIn the light of the Minister's speech at the weekend and his welcome conversion to the cause of local hospitals, will he confirm that this really is now the Government's policy, and will he have all plans for district general hospitals abandoned? Will he also let us know whether there are definite plans for community hospitals and, if so, how many are likely to be built?
§ Dr. OwenIt was this Government who published the paper on community hospitals, though I recognise that work had gone on under successive Administrations. There is a general recognition that there is a place for the smaller hospital. I think, however, that the relationship of the smaller community hospital does not always mean that it has to be purpose-built. It is a question of achieving a balance between the acute hospital, intensively used, and the active community hospital with rehabilitation services—not just long-stay geriatric hospitals and some smaller hospitals in rural areas. This is a question for area health authorities themselves to decide, and the balance of their district general hospital building programme will depend on the limited amount of capital available.