§ Mr. David Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those measures taken by his Department since 1979 which have specifically benefited the East Dorset health authority.
§ Mr. NewtonThe East Dorset health authority, together with other health authorities, has benefited in many ways from the large increase in expenditure on health services since 1979. The health authority has experienced a real growth of 36 per cent. in revenue funding in the period 1978–79 to 1986–87. Sales of land have released a further £851,176. Phase 1 of the Bournemouth district general hospital is presently under construction and approval has been given to the second phase of this major new capital development. At Poole general hospital, an extension to the maternity unit nears completion and a new geriatric unit is to start later this year, as is an acute mental illness unit at St. Anne's hospital, Canford Cliffs. East Dorset has also received £280,000 from central funds towards services for drugs misusers and £114,500 from the waiting list fund to deal with more than 2,000 additional cases. More patients have been treated than ever before, for example the numbers of in-patient cases increased by 29 per cent. between 1978–79 and 1985–86. A computerised cervical cytology call and recall system has been recently implemented in East Dorset.