§ Mr. Hal Millerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has approved the West Midlands Regional Health Authority's design for a phased best-buy hospital.
§ Dr. OwenThe West Midlands Regional Health Authority has not put its phased best-buy design to my right hon. Friend for approval as it accepts that there are substantial advantages in planning the proposed Redditch district general hospital as a nucleus development.
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§ Mr. Hal Millerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in his discussions with regional health authorities on the respective merits of nucleus and best-buy design hospitals, he indicated any difference in the size of the catchment areas the two designs would serve.
§ Dr. OwenRegional health authorities are aware that the best-buy hospital was originally designed to meet the acute services of a population of some 170,000–190,000. The nucleus hospital is the first phase of a hospital which can be expanded to meet the needs of populations ranging from 100,000 to 250,000; it will work in conjunction with other acute hospitals to provide a district general hospital service.
§ Mr. Hal Millerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether nucleus design hospitals are built in standard sizes; and what would be the minimum number of beds and the increase in beds obtained from each additional unit.
§ Dr. OwenThe nucleus hospital of 250–300 beds will be made up of a number of linked standard departments. The design envisages the possibility of growth up to 600–900 beds. Standard ward sections which can be added will generally contain 48–56 beds depending upon specialty.
§ Mr. Hal Millerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the cost differential between a nucleus hospital and a best-buy design hospital of 350 beds;
(2) how many beds a nucleus design hospital costing £6 million would provide, as compared with a best-buy design of the same cost.
§ Dr. OwenMeaningful comparisons cannot readily be made because the best-buy hospital, designed as a complete hospital, contains facilities not being provided in a first-phase nucleus hospital, and a phased version would contain some space not required until the hospital was completed. But the estimated works cost of a first-phrase nucleus hospital of 250–300 beds is about £6 million and the first phase of one best-buy hospital now being planned, with about 240 beds, is estimated to cost about £7 million.