§ 19. Mr. Ernie RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chairman of health hoards in Scotland to discuss finance.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythI meet chairmen regularly to discuss a wide range of strategic issues affecting the management of the NHS in Scotland.
§ Mr. RossWhen the Minister next meets the chairmen of the health boards in Scotland, will he have had a chance to study the correspondence from Tayside about the relocation of the casualty department of Dundee royal infirmary to a green-field site at Ninewells? Given that the health board has said that it will have difficulty finding the money for that relocation and upgrading, will the Minister consider favourably any requests that may be made at the meeting?
§ Mr. ForsythThat is clearly a matter for the Tayside health board. However, it may interest the hon. Gentleman to know that, as part of the patients charter initiative, we will take steps to consider accident and emergency and casualty cover to improve standards of provision applying to Tayside and to all other health boards.