§ 16. Mr. Shaun Woodward (Witney)What assessment he has made of the impact of the closure of Burford hospital on the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in west Oxfordshire. [88253]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Mr. John Hutton)My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State instructed officials at the south-east regional office of the NHS executive to facilitate further discussions about the proposals to reconfigure community services in Oxfordshire. While no decisions have yet been taken, should the Secretary of State decide to support the health authority's decision on the reconfiguration, the authority is committed to consider the relocation of the specialist Alzheimer's disease service that is provided at Burford community hospital.
§ Mr. WoodwardThe Minister will be aware that this is national Alzheimer's awareness week. He will also be aware that the Secretary of State has now had nearly an entire year to consider the future of Burford community hospital. The Royal College of Nursing report on Alzheimer's found that the Burford unit was top of 75 units throughout the country in the pioneering work that it did. The report went on to say that if we are to take Alzheimer's work seriously,
it is vital that the parent service continues at its present location.Will the Minister take that report seriously and will he finally make a decision about Burford and allow my 750 constituents who rely on the facilities of that hospital to know that they have a secure future?
§ Mr. HuttonI reassure the hon. Gentleman that we certainly take Alzheimer's disease seriously. In fact, as he will be aware, the publication of the national carers' strategy, which will help significantly the carers of people with the disease, has been widely welcomed. He will also probably be aware that, next year, the new national service framework for the NHS will be for older people. We are looking within the context of that framework to define new service models and national standards for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. I am sure that he will welcome that.
I am afraid that I am unable to give the hon. Gentleman any of the assurances that he is seeking about the future of the hospital in his constituency. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is still considering those proposals in great detail, as I am sure the hon. Gentleman would want him to do. A decision will be made as soon as possible.