§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be the effect of her recent policy statement on hospital building on the proposed Arrowe Park Hospital for the Wirral area health authorities, and upon the proposed closure of some smaller Wirral hospitals.
§ Dr. OwenConstruction work at Arrowe Park Hospital commenced in 1971 and is proceeding. The Wirral Area Health Authority is currently consulting interested local bodies about its proposals for the closure of several small hospitals for which they no longer see a service need. My speech on 6th December to the Medical Practitioners Union/ASTMS Conference on Community Hospitals, a copy of which is in the Library, set out the Government's future policy on hospital building and does not affect either of these developments.