§ Rev. Martin Smythasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what implications the possible closure of Crawfordsburn hospital has for patients waiting for admission to geriatric medicine in the North Down district of the Eastern board;
(2) what implications the closure of Haypark hospital, Belfast, has for patients waiting for admission to geriatric medicine in the Belfast district of the Eastern board, north and west; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what implications the closure of Templemore and Haypark hospitals, and the possible closure of Crawfordsburn hospital, has for patients awaiting geriatric outpatient treatment in (a) the east and north Belfast, (b) the North Down and (c) the Bangor districts of the Eastern health and social services boards;
(4) what implications the closure of Templemore Avenue hospital has for patients waiting for admission to geriatric medicine in the east Belfast district of the Eastern board.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe Department of Health and Social Services is currently considering proposals made by the Eastern health and social services board for the rationalisation of hospital services. The proposals involve a substantial realignment of beds, but in so far as geriatric bed provision is concerned the proposed closures of Haypark and Templemore Avenue hospitals would be offset by an equivalent expansion in the number of geriatric beds in other hospitals. The Department has not received proposals for the closure of Crawfordsburn hospital.