§ Mr. BowisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 4 February,Official Report, column 335, what is her policy on making boundaries of district health and local authorities co-terminous; and how this was applied to her decision to approve the merger of the Kingston/Esher and Richmond/Twickenham/ Roehampton health districts.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe achievement of common boundaries between local authorities and district health authorities, whilst a highly desirable aid to joint working, is not essential. It is one of the potential benefits which may accrue from DHA mergers, and must be considered in the light of local circumstances.
The merger of Kingston and Esher with Richmond, Twickenham and Roehampton was approved for 1 April 1993 to enable the development of a more effective purchasing agency. Further adjustments to boundaries, in order to achieve co-terminosity at this stage, could have delayed the merger. South West Thames RHA now 82W proposes to consult to make the new Kingston and Richmond DHA co-terminous with local authorities by 1 April 1994.