HC Deb 20 June 1995 vol 262 cc144-5
9. Mrs. Gorman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals she has to allow St. Bartholomew's to continue as a private hospital. [27719]

Mr. Malone

Local health authorities and trusts are discussing the possibility of continuing health care at the St. Bartholomew's site with the Corporation of London. In addition, my right hon. Friend has asked Sir Ronald Grierson to chair a task force to look at practical options for the future use of the Smithfield site. The outcome of that work is awaited.

Mrs. Gorman

Does my hon. Friend agree that Bart's is to the medical world what Harrods is to retailing in the private sector—that is to say, it is a famous institution which can attract masses of spending to London from abroad? The tens of thousands of alumni of that hospital who are practising abroad would send their clients to a well-known public service hospital if it were not for the prejudice which the Opposition have about pay beds, which has prevented many hospitals from developing what could be a lucrative income to supplement their national health service work. Is it not a great shame that we are not doing more to encourage money that is spent in private hospitals to be spent in that area of the public sector?

Mr. Malone

My hon. Friend will be pleased to hear me confirm that it is the Government's intention to promote and to try to ensure a mixed economy for health, as that is important. My hon. Friend makes her point forcibly, but the reputation of any trust depends on its clinical excellence. The purpose of the change and consolidation at the trust to which we are referring is to promote clinical excellence. I am sure that Bart's reputation will be maintained and that the alumni will take good note of that.

Mrs. Beckett

Is the Minister aware that Bart's received more nominations from the public for a charter mark award than any other institution? Does he think that that might be due to the fact that, in all its history, Bart's has never had private beds and has never treated private patients? Is it not typical of the direction of health care under this Government, and the ultimate comment and obscenity of their policy, that Conservative Members should be advocating the closure of Bart's as an NHS hospital and its opening—after 900 years—as a private institution to treat just a few people?

Mr. Malone

I am glad to see that— probably uniquely among Labour's Front-Bench team— the right hon. Lady's 1970s prejudices are entirely undiminished. Bart's received no nomination from the right hon. Lady when she was asked in a recent interview whether her party's policy would be to save Bart's. All we got was equivocation, and no firm answer. She is in no position to make any suggestion about the future of Bart's.

Sir Patrick Cormack

Reverting to the point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Billericay (Mrs. Gorman), if the Al Fayeds buy Bart's, can they have British citizenship?

Mr. Malone

I am sure that they would seek my hon. Friend's advice.