HC Deb 02 February 1981 vol 998 cc4-5
3. Mr. Hooson

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has completed his review of the National Health Service administration in Wales: and whether he will make a statement.

The Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Wyn Roberts)

My right hon. Friend and I are giving careful consideration to the comments received in response to "The Structure and Management of the National Health Service in Wales", and to the area health authorities' proposals for the establishment of health management units.

Mr. Hooson

Will my hon. Friend note that the people of Powys are highly satisfied with the excellent service provided by the existing structure of the 15 small hospitals in Powys, and that the great majority of the people in the area are totally opposed to interference in a successful scheme by the proposal by the consultants at the Bronglais hospital, Aberystwyth, for a Mid-Wales authority?

Mr. Roberts

As my right hon. Friend stated in the structure document, the people of Powys cherish the right to a health authority of their own". That is borne out by the fact that of the 19 representations supporting the establishment of a Mid-Wales health authority, only three came from within Powys, as against 45 from within the area supporting the retention of the present health authority.

Mr. D. E. Thomas

When reviewing the administration of the National Health Service in Wales, will the Minister consider the report of Sir Douglas Black, produced last year, which indicated deep and continuing inequalities in the provision of health care in Wales compared with that in other countries and other regions in Britain? What policy does the Department have for redressing these inequalities?

Mr. Roberts

As the hon. Gentleman knows, we are concerned mainly with the structure of the Health Service in Wales and with changing that structure. Any changes that are made in the structure will have their effect in due course on the quality of the Health Service in Wales.

Mr. Delwyn Williams

Is my hon. Friend aware that the people of North Powys fully subscribe to the views expressed by the people of South Powys. so ably put forward by my hon. Friend the Member for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. Hooson)?

Mr. Roberts

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that information, which my right hon. Friend and I have duly noted. However, I must stress that no firm decisions have as yet been taken.

Dr. Roger Thomas

Is the Minister fully conversant with the great uncertainties and discontent among senior and highly responsible staff over what appears to be a lack of urgency on the part of the Welsh Office in getting this organisation off the ground? Will the Welsh Office ensure that all centres of excellence and of medicine are not confined to one teaching hospital and South Glamorgan?

Mr. Roberts

I cannot understand the hon. Gentleman's point about urgency, because the consultative period came to an end only on 31 December. Surely he cannot expect us by now to have taken all the representations into account. We have received many representations. We shall consider them and hope to come to a firm conclusion within a month or so.