§ Mr. Sydney Irvingasked the Minister of Health (1) what alternative proposals were considered before the decision was taken to close the Southern Hospital, Dartford, and to reorganise Joyce Green Hospital;
(2) when it is expected, under the present proposals, that the Southern Hospital, Dartford, will finally close;
(3) what alterations are to be made to Joyce Green Hospital, Dartford, under the proposed reorganisation; and when it is expected that these will be completed;
(4) what will be the cost of the proposed alterations to Joyce Green Hospital, Dartford.
§ Mr. R. ThompsonA number of alternative uses for the large amount of accommodation surplus to local needs in these two hospitals have been examined in the past but no practicable use has been found. Before drawing up their present plan, which involves the closure
60Wtributions to the United Nations and the major Specialised Agencies are assessed on the principle of capacity to pay, based on national income. Contributions to the Expanded Technical Assistance Programme and to the relief funds are entirely at the discretion of contributing Governments.
of the Southern Hospital and the upgrading of Joyce Green Hospital, which together with West Hill Hospital would provide a comprehensive service for the area, the Regional Board considered the alternative of closing Joyce Green and of developing West Hill. My right hon. and learned Friend's consent is required to the closing of a hospital and the Board's plan is under consideration.
The alterations at Joyce Green involve improvements to wards, operating theatre and staff accommodation at an estimated cost of £60,000 and the Regional Hospital Board expect to complete this work in July. Subsequently they propose to provide a twin operating theatre at an estimated cost of £40,000 and, as and when finance is available, to continue with the general upgrading of the hospital. The cost of this is estimated at between £300,000 and £400,000.
§ Mr. Sydney Irvingasked the Minister of Health, (1) if he will state the number of staff employed at the Southern Hospital, Dartford;
61W(2) how many staff it is anticipated will be declared redundant as a result of the proposal to close the Southern Hospital, Dartford;
(3) how many staff are at present employed at the West Hill and Joyce Green Hospitals, Dartford; and what it is anticipated the numbers will be after reorganisation.
§ Mr. R. ThompsonThe number of staff, including part-timers, is 465 at the Southern Hospital, 592 at West Hill Hospital and 528 at Joyce Green. After the proposed reorganisation there would be 1,505 at the last two hospitals, 80 fewer posts than now exist in the three hospitals. It is expected that a high proportion of the staff at present in these posts would be absorbed in hospitals in the Group or elsewhere.
§ Mr. Sydney Irvingasked the Minister of Health what will be the saving in the cost of the Dartford Hospital Group following the closure of the Southern Hospital, Dartford.
§ Mr. R. ThompsonAbout £65,000 a year.
§ Mr. Sydney Irvingasked the Minister of Health how many beds are at present in use at the West Hill, Joyce Green, and Southern Hospitals, respectively; and how many there will be after reorganisation.
§ Mr. R. Thompson338, 362 and 308 available staffed beds of which 267, 296 and 226 are occupied, respectively. After the proposed reorganisation there would be about 800 beds in the two hospitals, and the Regional Board propose to increase this to 985 beds.
§ Mr. Sydney Irvingasked the Minister of Health what it is anticipated will be the total cost of upkeep of the Dartford Hospital Group after the closure of the Southern Hospital.
§ Mr. R. ThompsonAbout £1.3 million a year.
§ Mr. Sydney Irvingasked the Minister of Health what is the cost of upkeep of a modern 800-bed hospital, as compared with the estimated cost of upkeep of West Hill and Joyce Green Hospitals, Dartford, after reorganisation.
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§ Mr. R. ThompsonAs no 800 bedded general hospital has been erected since the war it is not practicable to make this comparison.
§ Mr. Sydney Irvingasked the Minister of Health what is the cost of building a modern 800-bed hospital; and where such a hospital has been erected in recent times.
§ Mr. R. ThompsonFor a non-teaching general hospital at least £4 million and possibly considerably more. None has been erected since the war.
§ Mr. Sydney Irvingasked the Minister of Health how many officers of his Department have visited any Dartford hospital in the last two years.
§ Mr. R. ThompsonAbout 20, for various purposes.
§ Mr. Sydney Irvingasked the Minister of Health how many members or officers of the South-Eastern Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board, other than the member who serves on the Dartford Hospital Management Committee, have visited any Dartford hospital in the last two years.
§ Mr. R. ThompsonAt least 18, including the Chairman and all principal officers, some of them many times.
§ Mr. Sydney Irvingasked the Minister of Health (1) what consultations took place with the Group Medical Committee of the Dartford Hospital Group before the decision was taken to close the Southern Hospital and to reorganise the Joyce Green Hospital;
(2) what consultations took place with the Medical Staffs Committees of the Dartford Hospital Group before the decision was taken to close the Southern Hospital and to reorganise the Joyce Green Hospital.
§ Mr. R. ThompsonFull consultation took place with the Hospital Management Committee, and the Chairman of the Group Medical Committee, which contains representatives of each Medical Staff Committee, was present at all discussions. The Senior Administrative Medical Officer also met representatives of the medical staff of the Southern Hospital.
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§ Mr. Sydney Irvingasked the Minister of Health (1) what consultation took place with the local medical profession before the decision was taken to reorganise the Dartford Hospital Group;
(2) what consultation took place with the local authorities in the catchment area of the Dartford Hospital Group before the decision was taken to reorganise the group.
§ Mr. R. ThompsonThe Local Medical Committees for London and for Kent and Canterbury and local authorities were informed by the Regional Hospital Board of the plan in November to give them an opportunity to comment. One local authortiy has commented. The London Local Medical Committee had no observations, and no reply was received from the Local Medical Committee for Kent and Canterbury.