§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how are the maintenance budgets determined in relation to the need to maintain the National Health Service estate.
§ Dr. VaughanMaintenance budgets are determined by individual health authorities in the light of local circumstances.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how the Government's restructuring proposals for the National Health Service will bring about an improvement in the maintenance and long-term care of the National Health Service estate.
§ Dr. VaughanWe expect that our proposal to establish a pattern of locally based district health authorities on the lines of existing single district authorities, will, if implemented, enable both health authority members and their officers to be more closely in touch than they can be in existing multi-district areas, with all the services—including maintenance and long-term care of the estate—for which they are responsible and the staff who provide them. This, together with the proposed strengthening of management at the operational level, should enable all services to be provided in a way which is more sensitive than at present to the needs of local populations and of the staff who serve them.