HC Deb 11 April 1978 vol 947 cc1156-9
2. Mr. Ovenden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he next plans to meet the chairman of the South East Thames Regional Health Authority.

The Minister of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Mr. Roland Moyle)

I expect to meet Sir John Donne at the next regular meeting with regional health authority chairmen on 16th May.

Mr. Ovenden

Does my hon. Friend agree that despite the small but welcome redistribution of funds to deprived areas in the region, too great a share of the region's resources are still being devoted to the London teaching hospitals? When he next meets the chairman of the regional authority, will he impress upon him the fact that the current plans for the region will still be under-funded by £24 million by 1987 and that we want to see a much greater degree of urgency towards redistribution and the application of RAWP principles in South-East Thames than we have seen so far?

Mr. Moyle

I am very grateful to my hon. Friend for his support of the RAWP formula. There is no particular need for me to press the case that he is urging on behalf of the chairman of the South East Thames Regional Authority because I know that he is fully desirous of ensuring that the under-funding in Kent is remedied. It is a difficult problem, because most resources in London are locked up in the teaching hospitals and we do need the output of the teaching hospitals to service the NHS of the future in all areas including Kent.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

Will the Minister discuss with the chairman of the South East Thames Regional Authority the danger of concentrating so many National Health Service beds in the large hospitals at the cost of closing down many small hospitals, such as the ones in my constituency? We have some very good small convalescent homes for patients on their way back from the district hospitals. Will the Minister reconsider the definition of acute beds, as convalescent beds are now called? Will he call them convalescent beds and keep them on?

Mr. Moyle

There is a very large surplus of beds in the Greenwich and Bexley Area Health Authority, an authority which has had the addition of two new hospitals in recent years, which are very advanced in design, and it is inevitable that there will be some rationalisation of service.

Mr. Christopher Price

Before my hon. Friend meets the chaiman of the South East Thames Regional Health Authority, will he meet the chairman of the Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark Area Health Authority, who will tell him that under the RAWP formula these three areas are due to lose 13 per cent. of the resources that they need? Many of us will welcome a cut-back in resources for the rich teaching hospitals—

Mr. Speaker

Order. That is not fair. Every area could get in on such a question. We are dealing with the South East Regional Thames Health Authority.

Mr. Price

But, Mr. Speaker, my area is part of the South East Thames Regional Health Authority. After that little geography lesson, I should say that many of us would welcome a cut-back in the over-provision for the teaching hospitals. Under these cuts it is not the teaching hospitals that are suffering but the facilities for the mentally ill and handicapped, which are gravely under-provided, particularly in the Lewisham area.

Mr. Moyle

I agree that there is considerable room for improvement in services for the mentally ill and handicapped in these areas. I assure my hon. Friend that I am in constant and regular touch with—

Hon. Members

We cannot hear.

Mr. Speaker

Order. It is customary to address the Chair when answering questions.

Mr. Moyle

I assure my hon. Friend that I am in close and regular contact with the chairman of the Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark Area Health Authority.

Mr. Newton

Is the Minister aware that this concern about the way in which the RAWP exercise has proceeded is widely shared? However, out of deference to you, Mr. Speaker, I shall not mention any other areas. What steps is the Minister taking to monitor the way in which the allocation is being made and whether it is fair and consistent between one region and another?

Mr. Moyle

I am totally confident that the distribution between one region and another is based on the RAWP principles, and I support the allocation that has been made thereon. We continually monitor the RAWP formula and we have a special section in my Department to keep an eye on the matter continually. From the questions that I have heard today hon. Members are urging support for the application of the RAWP formula and are not expressing concern.