§ 14. Mr. Michael Moore (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale)When he expects the NHS acute services review to be completed; and if he will make a statement. [41263]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Sam Galbraith)The acute services review will be completed on time, at the end of May. The report will be published some time in June and will be made widely available.
§ Mr. MooreI thank the Minister for that reply. Will he comment on whether Sir David Carter has looked at the future of the Princess Alexandra eye pavilion in Edinburgh? Will he give a specific assurance that, contrary to recent rumours, the eye pavilion's services, which are respected throughout the world and serve a wide range of people in the borders, Edinburgh and elsewhere in Scotland, will not be dispersed and that the site will not be sold simply to reap maximum development value for somebody else?
§ Mr. GalbraithI should explain to the hon. Gentleman that the acute services review is not about specific details for each health board. It is a template and the basis for principles on which acute services are organised, in order to ensure that, no matter where one enters the system, one gets the best possible care. Although the eye pavilion is a matter for Lothian health board, I assure the hon. Gentleman that nowhere in the health service is a decision made simply to make money from development. All decisions are made in the best interests of the patients whom we all look after.