HL Deb 11 November 1976 vol 377 cc655-7

3.19 p.m.

Lord PANNELL

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what proposals exist for the future of St. Nicholas' Hospital, Plumstead; whether they have taken into account the rapid growth of the population in the nearby new town of Thamesmead; and whether they can make a Statement on the needs of the area for hospital services in the future.

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, all area health authorities are preparing lands for the future provision of services to the populations which they serve, taking account of the resources which are or are likely to be available to them and of national and regional policies and priorities. Each authority is responsible for consulting local interests about their proposals before submitting them to the Regional Health Authority, who will then submit proposals to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. The Greenwich and Bexley Area Health Authority have been considering the need for rationalisation of their services, and I understand that they will shortly publish revised proposals following public discussions earlier this year.

Lord PANNELL

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that there will be a great deal of relief that no irrevocable steps have been taken up till now? There is a great degree of despondency and alarm over the leaks that have appeared, bearing in mind what an absolute disaster it would be if St. Nicholas was closed because there would be no hospital accommodation for the new town of Thamesmead. The envisaged proposals to go to Greenwich, or the Brook Hospital which are very far away, may represent real hardship in this tightly populated part of the London metropolis. Can my noble friend give me some indication that we will know in good time of any proposals to close this hospital so that we can organise the objections to them?

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, there are formal procedures for consultation, submission and approval of proposals for closure or major changes of use. Under these, if agreement cannot be reached locally, the decision rests with my right honourable friend. If the noble Lord wishes to know the situation I would suggest that if he has not already done so—and I imagine he may have done so—he communicate with the community health councils, for they play quite an important part in matters of this kind.

Lord MURRAY of GRAVESEND

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that because of shifts in population since the end of the war from the centre of London to places like Thamesmead and the South-East there is a great deal of urgency about this? Will he convey to his right honourable friend the urgency of this matter because of the lack of hospitals?

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, I shall certainly do so; but I want to point out that it is a matter in the first instance for the Area Health Authority who are obliged to go through certain procedures. I would suggest that at this stage, if any noble Lord is concerned, something might be done at that level.

Lord PANNELL

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that I have not consulted the community health councils as I am not very keen upon wasting time on people who have closed minds?