§ Mr. Clellandasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has yet considered the proposed closure of a dermatology ward in the Royal Victoria hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne.
§ Mr. WhitneyNewcastle health authority is currently undertaking a wide-ranging review of its services. As part of that work it is considering a number of areas for investigation, including the rationalisation of its dermatology services. I understand, however, that no firm proposals for this service have yet been considered.
Proposals from health authorities to rationalise services, or to vary the way in which those services are provided, would normally be referred to Ministers only where they involve a substantial variation in services to which the local community health council had objected.