§ Mr. Hayhoeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the building contract for the new Ealing Hospital to be completed; how much longer it will be before the hospital is handed over for operational use to the area health authority; and whether he 53W will delay the closures at Hounslow Hospital until the new Ealing Hospital is opened for patient use.
§ Mr. MoyleThe regional health authority considers that it should be possible to complete the outstanding work before the end of this year. However, the current rate of progress suggests that it could take until the spring or early summer of next year, in which case it is unlikely that the area health authority will be able to commission the buildings ready for operational use before the end of that year.
The arrangements for the provision of services following the closures at Hounslow Hospital do not involve the use of facilities at the new Ealing Hospital. There is, therefore, no reason to delay the closures.