§ 1. Mr. KilfedderTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will ensure that Bangor hospital will be granted sufficient funds to enable it to provide acute services and other facilities for its catchment area.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Jeremy Hanley)As I explained to the hon. Gentleman during last night's Adjournment 1024 debate, acute services for the Bangor area are provided mainly by the Ulster hospital, some 10 miles distant, and by Ards hospital, which is only some five miles away. I am satisfied that they have sufficient funds to maintain their services. I am informed by the Eastern health and social services board that it has no proposals before it at present to alter the services currently provided by Bangor hospital.
§ Mr. KilfedderIs the Minister aware that the people of Bangor will regard his answer as unsatisfactory? A person in Bangor who has a heart attack or is involved in a serious accident cannot be admitted to Bangor hospital, because no accident or emergency facilities are provided there. It is no use saying that it is only 10 miles to the Ulster hospital in Dundonald, because an ambulance or other transport may not be available and serious consequences may result from the delay. I therefore implore the Minister to change his mind.
§ Mr. HanleyThe hon. Gentleman is absolutely right —there may be areas where people will have to travel two, three, four or five miles to get emergency treatment, but we are kitting out ambulances with defibrillators. The services at Ards and Ulster are perfectly adequate. I have had no reports that anyone has been put at risk because there is no acute hospital on their doorstep. I assure the hon. Gentleman that the services provided by the management at that hospital unit for people in Bangor are excellent, and I hope that that will continue.
Mr. John D. TaylorDoes the Minister recognise that some 40 per cent. of the population covered by the Eastern health and social services board live in the North Down and Ards area? Does he recognise that there is growing irritation among people living there at the fact that only 15 per cent. of the funds are spent in their area? Will the hon. Gentleman assure the ever-increasing population in that area—especially in Ards, which is the fastest growing area in Northern Ireland—that Ards hospital will be retained and that there will be further investment in and expansion of services at that hospital?
§ Mr. HanleyThe right hon. Gentleman is right about the population of North Down. The population of Bangor has increased in recent years from 25,000 to 50,000. It is wrong to say that the money spent within the Ulster, North Down and Ards hospital unit is not in line with population growth. Most of the money spent in that area is for regional services in Belfast. As I said, the people who are provided with services by the Ulster, North Down and Ards hospital unit are well served.
In Northern Ireland as a whole, expenditure this year on health and social services is £1,166 million, an increase of £115 million—that is not cut. The Eastern board will receive £430 million this year—an increase of £40 million —which is well ahead of inflation. The Ulster, North Down and Ards hospitals unit will receive an increase of £4 million, which brings it up to million. I should be grateful, therefore, if there could be no more talk of cuts in that area.