HC Deb 22 April 1993 vol 223 cc494-5
1. Mr. McGrady

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the manner of consultation by the Eastern health and social services board in respect of its document statement of intent for general acute hospital services within the Eastern board area.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Jeremy Hanley)

As the hon. Gentleman is aware, the Eastern health and social services board is currently consulting on its "Statement of Intent for General Acute Hospital Services" and this process is due to end on 14 May. I understand that the board is making strenuous efforts to consult as widely as possible, and it is engaged in an intensive programme of meetings with public representatives and local communities.

Mr. McGrady

Is the Minister aware that many of the delegations to the Eastern health and social services board have been refused explanations of the terminology of the statement of intent on such important factors as split-site operations, midwifery-led obstetrics, intermediate and day surgical procedures, accident and emergency provision services and consultant staffing? If the board is unable to clarify to delegations what those terms mean, how can the Minister say that that is consultation? Will he intervene to ensure that people's statutory right to consultation is properly executed and fulfilled?

Mr. Hanley

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for bringing that matter to my attention. It is always open to anybody who is unsatisfied with the avenues of consultation to write to my noble Friend Lord Arran, the Minister with responsibility for health and social services in Northern Ireland, and let him know of their dissatisfaction. The consultation process will end on 14 May and the board will have until the end of July to make its recommendations. There will then be further public consultation, when people can put questions directly to my noble Friend and I hope that they will take every opportunity to do so.

Mr. Peter Robinson

Is the Minister aware that there is considerable concern throughout the area of the Eastern health and social services board about the proposed changes? Will he therefore ensure that the suggested consultation is widespread and includes the people themselves, so that those such as my constituents the Costello family can give their view on the services being handed out by the board? Is the Minister aware that it took one hour and five minutes for a cardiac ambulance to arrive 20 minutes after Mr. Costello had died? Will the Minister look into that matter and examine the services provided by the board as they are thoroughly inadequate and need to be reviewed and improved?

Mr. Hanley

The hon. Gentleman refers to a most distressing case which I read about yesterday in the Belfast Newsletter. The hon. Gentleman has written to my noble Friend about the case. I assure him that the Ulster, North Down and Ards hospital health and social services trust is investigating the matter. Lord Arran will write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as those researches have been completed.

Rev. Martin Smyth

Does the Minister share the concern of delegations to the board, who have described it as a dialogue with the deaf? That may be an insult to the deaf community. Does the Minister accept that if the board sets down criteria for judgment and then moves away from those criteria, it has moved the goalposts? Will he ask the board to refrain from implementing the suggestions on maternity provision in the board's area until the Department's new working party has made its recommendations?

Mr. Hanley

Again, all that I can say is that my information is that the board is carrying out its responsibilities conscientiously. If the hon. Gentleman has any particular complaints, he should address them to my noble Friend. I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave earlier as to the further consultation process which is available.