HC Deb 09 May 1990 vol 172 cc151-2W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the difference between the Welsh language version and the English language version of the letter sent by P. R. Gregory of his Department to C. H. Thomas of Gwynedd health authority on the conditions to be met prior to the closure of Caernarfon cottage hospital.

Mr. Grist

The difference between the Welsh and English versions of the fifth paragraph of the letter arose during the process of drafting in English and translation into Welsh. As the hon. Gentleman is aware, a further letter has been sent to the general manager clarifying that only the English version currently sets out the conditions of closure.

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make it his policy to inspect(a) the steps taken to reprovide general anaesthetic dental clinic facilities at ysbyty Gwynedd and (b) the proposed motorised mobile dental clinic facilities prior to allowing Gwynedd health authority to close the cottage hospital, Caernarfon;

(2) what is the proportion of the staff at (a) the cottage hospital, Caernarfon and (b) ysbyty Gwynedd who are Welsh-speaking;

(3) if he will publish in the Official Report the updated estimated cost of running the cottage hospital, Caernarfon on the basis of which he agreed to confirm the closure; and what were the assumptions relating to (a) bed occupancy rates and (b) the number of persons using the casualty facilities at that hospital on which these cost estimates were based;

(4) what proportion of the patients currently treated at the cottage hospital, Caernarfon will be treated in (a) Eryri hospital, Caernarfon and (b) Bryn Seiont hospital, Caernarfon after the proposed closure of the cottage hospital;

(5) what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the Gwynedd health authority complies with the recommendations of Welsh Office circular WHC(89)28 on the future development of community dental services with regard to setting up an effective monitoring system to evaluate the efficiency of the arrangements for transfer of appropriate patients from the community dental services to the general dental service; by what date he expects this to be achieved; and if he will make a statement;

(6) whether he has received from Gwynedd district health authority any application for the partial closure of the cottage hospital, Caernarfon; and if he will make a statement;

(7) if he will make a statement on the letter of 20 April by P. R. Gregory of the Welsh Office to C. H. Thomas, the district manager of Gwynedd district health authority, paragraph 32 of annex 'A', with regard to alternative cost saving options considered by the health authority instead of closing the cottage hospital, Caernarfon; and if he will list in the Official Report the alternatives which were considered;

(8) what consultations his Department had with general practitioners in the town of Caernarfon before approving proposals to close the cottage hospital, Caernarfon.

Mr. Grist

I shall write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.