HC Deb 30 November 1976 vol 921 cc681-2
14. Mr. Neubert

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about the draft reorganisation proposals of the North-East Thames Regional Health Authority.

Mr. Ennals

I have received representations from the hon. Member for Upminster (Mr. Loveridge) on behalf of some of his constituents.

Mr. Neubert

Is the Secretary of State aware of the great public concern in my constituency and throughout Essex over proposals to close the ultra-modern neurosurgical unit at Oldchurch Hospital? Will he ensure that such a drastic decision receives full public debate and is not taken in the rarefied ether of medical politics?

Mr. Ennals

If, eventually, it is proposed that the hospital should be closed, and if the proposal is opposed by the community health council, I assure the hon. Gentleman that the final decision will be taken by the Secretary of State. I am not informed about the specific hospital mentioned by the hon. Gentleman. It may be that a proposal is out for consultation, but I can assure him that no decision has yet been taken.

Mr. Spearing

Does my right hon. Friend agree that his principle of reallocation of resources nationally should also apply inside any regional health authority? Is he aware that, whatever may happen in Woolwich on the other side of the river, in Newham the North East Regional Health Authority closes hospitals not only before new ones are built but before permission for new ones—particularly maternity hospitals—has been given? In respect of closures at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, which are the result of his recent action, will he investigate the effects that this is having on the emergency bed service in East London?

Mr. Ennals

Certainly. I shall make inquiries on the last point raised by my hon. Friend. I agree that part of the problem of redistribution is not merely between regions but also within regions. If we consider the situation in the North East Thames region, it has a problem where some areas have been over-provided and some under-provided, and therefore they have been conducting their own study to see how they can ensure that resources available for the North East Thames region are distributed more equitably. But, as I said earlier, we must watch carefully that we do not proceed with reallocation so quickly as to do severe damage to hospitals in the area.

Mr. Newton

Will the Secretary of State accept that I am very happy with what he has just said about distribution within areas, because it is often assumed that the Thames regions are entirely confined to Metropolitan London? Will he assure me that something will now be done for the Chelmsford and Colchester district where the population has been expanding very fast and where practically nothing has been spent on their hospitals since the war?

Mr. Ennals

It is true that part of the long-term planning of the North East Thames region is to see that some of the under-provision in Essex is met. Chelmsford and Colchester are two examples, and this, of course, is the case with others of the Thames regions. There is a similar problem in the South-East Thames region, where there is also a problem of redistribution within the region.