HC Deb 24 November 1987 vol 123 cc132-3
2. Mr. Hind

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the increases in the National Health Service budget announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer for 1988–89 and 1989–90 in the Autumn Statement he intends to grant to the north-west region; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Currie

Health authority allocations for 1988–89 will be announced shortly. Allocations for 1989–90 will be announced towards the end of next year. The North West regional health authority this year has taken 9.1 per cent, of the total allocated budget.

Mr. Hind

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her response. On behalf of the people of the north-west, I give hearty thanks to her. On Friday the new children's ward at Wrightington hospital was opened for extremely sick children. Will my hon. Friend confirm that the second biggest allocation in the country is going to the north-west and that nine hospitals are under construction at the moment? Will she confirm that the 22 hospital projects that are planned for the next few years will be secure and that the people of the north-west can look forward to their new hospitals?

Mrs. Currie

I thank my hon. Friend for his kind remarks. He knows that I took a personal interest in the children at Wrightington hospital. I am pleased to hear about the progress being made. My hon. Friend is absolutely right about the capital scheme. The sum of £73.4 million has been allocated to the north-west region this year. It is the second largest capital allocation in the country. It compares with £38 million in 1978 under the Labour Government, of which various Opposition Members were members. Of the nine schemes under construction, there are major schemes in Oldham, Tameside and the Manchester royal infirmary, for which my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary laid the foundation stone last year. I shall take my hon. Friend's other remarks into account.

Mr. McCartney

Some time ago I wrote to the Minister about the cuts in budget in the Wigan health authority area, where the cervical cytology scheme is £30,000 short. She refused to meet me and other hon. Members on this question. Will she reconsider the matter, as the health authority is now doing what the Government asked it to do in relation to the scheme?

Mrs. Currie

I am delighted to hear that the hon. Gentleman is interested in cervical cytology. The Government are determined to cut the death toll from this appalling cancer affecting women. I am satisfied that all our health authorities will have the appropriate computerised call and recall systems in place by next year.

Mrs. Kellett-Bowman

In making allocations to the north-west, will my hon. Friend take into account the fact that places such as Lancaster have substantial aging populations? While we are very happy to take responsibility for this natural phenomenon, matters are complicated by the enormous influx of people from places such as Blackburn. That puts a very considerable strain on our resources. Will my hon. Friend take that into account in her allocations?

Mrs. Currie

I am glad to report to the House that in the Lancaster health authority area we do, indeed, take into account the pattern of demography. From 1982 until now patient activity has increased on all fronts. In-patient cases treated are up by 12.5 per cent., out-patient attendances have increased by 12.3 per cent, and a major redevelopment of the Royal Lancaster infirmary, costing nearly £16 million, is due to start shortly. My hon. Friend's remarks point to the reasons why we are giving extra money to Blackburn and the other health authorities in the north-west region.