§ Mr. Altonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider intervening to prevent the proposed closure of the Liverpool Royal children's hospital and Newsham general hospital by the Liverpool area health authority.
§ Dr. VaughanThere is a clear need to rationalise services in Liverpool so that they meet the needs of the community to be served in the future. Where this seems to indicate significant change, the area health authority (teaching) will follow the procedures by which there is wide consultation with all local interests, including the community health council and hon. Members with local constituencies. This process will ensure that any final decision about the future of a particular hospital will take into account all relevant facts and arguments. I am, of course, aware of the strong local feeling about these hospitals and am confident that the authority will give ample opportunity for it to be expressed and will give it careful consideration. I understand that the authority has published a consultation 303W document on hospital services for children and that it would welcome relevant responses from any quarter.