Rathbone Hospital, Liverpool

HC Deb 22 May 1980 vol 985 c321W

Mr. Alton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the closure of Rathbone hospital, Liverpool.

Dr Vaughan

On 2 May 1980 the Liverpool area health authority (teaching) considered recommendations from its area management team designed to reduce expenditure to a level consistent with available cash allocations. The temporary closure of Rathbone hospital and transfer of services to vacant accommodation at Olive Mount and Sefton general hospitals, producing estimated savings of £160,000, was one such recommendation. The authority decided that the implications of such a change should be investigated in greater depth and consultations instituted with interested parties before considering the matter further.