§ Baroness MASHAM of ILTONasked Her Majesty's Government:
How much notice is taken by the DHSS of past mistakes made in the building of hospitals, such as the lack of facilities for disabled people at the new Darlington Memorial Hospital, when plans are being made for the building of further new hospitals.
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLThe Department of Health and Social Security has drawn the attention of Health Authorities to guidance on the planning and design of facilities for disabled people and itself issues advice on health building design matters in the light of experience gained in the past. The Department has also instructed Health Authorities to comply with Sections 4 and 7 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 when planning the construction of new hospitals or updating existing ones and has also recommended that existing buildings should be improved wherever this is practicable. The Darlington Memorial Hospital was designed before much of the existing guidance was available.