HL Deb 16 July 1992 vol 539 cc313-5

11.2 a.m.

Lord Hatch of Lusby asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will give an assurance that the Royal Brompton National Heart and Lung Hospital will be maintained and not be moved from its existing site in Chelsea as a result of the Tomlinson findings.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege)

My Lords, the Government cannot decide the future of individual hospitals until after Sir Bernard Tomlinson's report is received by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Health.

Lord Hatch of Lusby

My Lords, does not the noble Baroness agree that the hospital, with its treatment, research and teaching, is a unique national asset? In the international world it is upholding British medical traditions in all those aspects of its work. Is it not important therefore to keep that national asset on the site of the new hospital to where it was recently moved?

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, I know the great respect and esteem in which the hospital is held both in this country and internationally. Eighty-five per cent. of the patients treated at the Brompton come from this country.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My Lords, as one whose wife was recently a patient in that magnificent hospital, I find myself in the unusual position of strongly supporting the noble Lord, Lord Hatch of Lusby.

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, unity is pleasurable.

Baroness Gardner of Parkes

My Lords, can the Minister confirm that the Government are aware of the great role that attaches not only to the Brompton but to all the special health authorities which have the postgraduate teaching institutes for medicine attached to them, bearing in mind the important role that they play in educating our doctors? Will the Government take that fully into consideration when deciding the future of services in London, and will they bear in mind the national importance of hospitals such as the Brompton, on whose board I served as a governor for 17 years?

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, my noble friend is right. That is one of the many considerations that Sir Bernard and his team will bear in mind when producing their report.

Lord Ennals

My Lords, I warmly support what was said about the Royal Brompton Hospital, and the Minister's reply in relation to the Tomlinson report. Can the noble Baroness assure the House that we shall have the opportunity to consider the recommendations of Sir Bernard Tomlinson before any decisions are taken by the Government?

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, I cannot believe that a review on this scale would not generate some public debate.

Lord Carter

My Lords, is the Minister aware that the Royal Brompton, like some other London hospitals, is facing a severe financial crisis? It is having to cut back some of its services and to downgrade some of the senior and clinical nursing posts. Can the Minister assure the House that changes in the hospital service in London which follow the Tomlinson report will be based on a system of proper planning and consultation rather than the haphazard operation of the so-called internal market?

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, any major decisions such as hospital closures are always subject to consultation before the Secretary of State takes a view.

Lord Hatch of Lusby

My Lords, can the noble Baroness tell the House when she expects to receive the Tomlinson report? To return to my original Question, does not the noble Baroness agree that it is important that the Royal Brompton Hospital, as a national asset with an international reputation, should have its name preserved? As the hospital was moved quite recently, is it not important also that its work should not be disrupted once again by its being moved to another site?

Baroness Cumberlege

My Lords, considerable investment has been placed in the Brompton Hospital. Over the past four years, £26 million has been invested in the new capital plant, and the revenue allocation for the current year was increased by nearly 15 per cent. The Tomlinson inquiry will report early in the autumn. The Secretaries of State for Education and Health will then establish a special unit to implement the Government's decisions and to help manage the changes. The Government wish to ensure that their decisions are acted upon decisively and rapidly.