§ Mr. BerminghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects a review to be undertaken into the special hospitals system; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanMajor changes in the management of the special hospitals service were made during the latter half of 1989, including the transfer of management responsibility to the new special hospitals service authority and the introduction of general management. We have instructed the authority to review existing policies and priorities within the strategic framework provided by the Government's stated objectives for the further development of the service, to provide an effective basis for its management of special hospitals in future years. We will review its progress regularly, and a comprehensive evaluation of the new arrangements will be undertaken in due course.