§ 5. Mr. Raffanasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will seek an urgent meeting with Clwyd health authority to discuss the future of Chatsworth house hospital, Prestatyn.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsNo, Sir. Clwyd health authority's proposals in respect of Chatsworth house form part of wider rationalisation proposals upon which the authority have undertaken public consultation. Should local agreement not be reached and the authority wish to proceed, the proposals will have to be submitted to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for his consideration, and it would not be appropriate to intervene at this stage.
§ Mr. RaffanAs it is clear that local agreement will not be reached and that proposals will be submitted to the Secretary of State, will my hon. Friend bear in mind that, should Chatsworth house be closed, Prestatyn, the largest of the four towns in my constituency, will be the only one without any hospital facilities whatever? Is my hon. Friend aware that the proposed closure is supported by members of the Labour party, including the former election agent of the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mr. Jones)? Does my hon. Friend agree that this matter exposes the hypocrisy of the Opposition's position on the National Health Service?
§ Mr. RobertsI hope that everyone who considers the authority's rationalisation proposals will take a sensible, non-political view and judge the proposals on their merits. The provision of a hospital for Prestatyn is a matter for the health authority. It has tentatively programmed a hospital for 1992, but detailed planning has not yet commenced.