South Glamorgan Health Authority (Hansard, 30 April 1990)

3. Mr. John P. Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the chairman of South Glamorgan health authority; and what he discussed.

§ Mr. Grist
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met the chairman of South Glamorgan district health authority in November 1989, when the financial position of district health authorities was discussed.

Mr. Smith
I thank the Minister for that reply. When the Secretary of State next meets the chairman of South Glamorgan health authority, will he draw to his attention the fact that the proposed cuts in South Glamorgan health services as a result of the alleged £7 million overspend will result in the immediate closure of two hospitals in Barry—the Neale Kent and the Amy Evans—with the displacement of up to 20,000 out-patients, who will then have to travel long distances to get treatment? Will he therefore impress on the chairman that no hospital should be shut until a new neighbourhood hospital is built?

§ Mr. Grist
The hon. Gentleman will know that these proposals are out to consultation at the moment which may result in their eventual appearance before my right hon. Friend for decision. So I cannot comment on the hon. Gentleman's point.

§ Mr. Gwilym Jones
Is my hon. Friend satisfied with his initiative for increasing the numbers of heart operations in Cardiff; and what further steps might he contemplate taking?

§ Mr. Grist
Following the report of the Royal College of Physicians on cardiac surgery it was decided that the number of operations should rise to about 1,200. University hospital provided about 630 in the past year. It is busy erecting the paediatric cardiac unit, which will be opened this September. We will then go out to consultation to determine where the remaining 400—over and above the 800 that University hospital, Wales is pledged to carry out—of the 1,200 should go. We await—

§ Mr. Win Griffiths
Bridgend.

§ Mr. Grist
There we are. Hon. Members are already making bids from sedentary positions.

§ Mr. Morgan
Much as we should like to end the last Welsh Questions of the present Secretary of State with good will, before he finally presses the pilot ejector-seat button, may I draw to his attention and to that of his fellow Ministers the extraordinary situation that has arisen in South Glamorgan health authority, which is reviving the proposal to close the orthopaedic ward at the Prince of Wales hospital by stealth, without making any announcement? It is hiding the proposal away on page 17 of the consultative document on the proposed closure of the Glan Ely geriatric hospital. It will then be moved into the children's ward in Rhydlafar, which is the only specialist orthopaedic ward in Wales. Will the Minister comment on the dubious morality of sneaking in the closure in this way?

§ Mr. Grist
I thought that the hon. Gentleman said that it was contained in the proposals that were made public. Therefore, it was hardly being smuggled through. Nevertheless, if it represents a major change in the provision and use of Health Service facilities it is, of course, open to exactly the same form of consultation and objection as any other proposal.

§ Mr. Michael
Does the Minister accept that the fact that South Glamorgan health authority has a £7.2 million deficit makes nonsense of the consultations that he described? As the Minister is responsible, he should make some comment about the way in which services are deteriorating. There is great concern at the moment about the loss of school nurses through unilateral decision-making, but it is all due to the underfunding of the health authority. Does he recognise that my anger and the anger of my colleagues and of the people of Wales is well justified because he is neglecting the Health Service not only in South Glamorgan but throughout Wales?

§ Mr. Grist
Does the hon. Gentleman realise that the capital provision for South Glamorgan is rising this year by 122 per cent? Does he recognise that the new Llandough obstetric unit in South Glamorgan, which cost about £8 million and has just been opened, is the biggest unit to be opened since the University hospital, Wales? I do not think that that is overlooking South Glamorgan.