HC Deb 18 January 1994 vol 235 cc531-2W
Mr. Burden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the relocation plan on which she approved the closure of the Royal orthopaedic hospital in Birmingham;

(2) when she gave her approval to the closure of the Royal orthopaedic hospital in Birmingham.

Dr. Mawhinney

Agreement to the permanent closure of the Birmingham accident and the Royal orthopaedic hospitals was given on 1 February 1993. In order to effect the closures, trauma, orthopaedic, plastic surgery and burns services were to transfer to the Birmingham general hospital and later relocate to the Selly Oak hospital site. In order to make sufficient space at the general hospital, general surgery and general medicine were to be transferred to the Queen Elizabeth and Selly Oak hospitals.

Mr. Burden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received to change the relocation plan associated with the closure of the Royal orthopaedic hospital in Birmingham; and if she will make a statement.

Dr. Mawhinney

Since South Birmingham district health authority put forward suggestions for the closure of the Royal orthopaedic hospital and reprovision of these services on the Selly Oak hospital site, we have received 12 letters from hon. Members and 51 from members of the public.

Mr. Burden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response she has made to the South Birmingham health authority financial review into the Royal orthopaedic hospital compiled by KPMG Peat Marwick, a copy of which has been sent to her.

Dr. Mawhinney

It is for the South Birmingham district health authority, which commissioned this report, to consider what response, if any, to make to it.

Mr. Burden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will set out the financial grounds on which she gave her approval to the closure of the Royal orthopaedic hospital in Birmingham.

Dr. Mawhinney

At the time the proposal for the closure of the Royal orthopaedic hospital was considered in February 1993, concerns were expressed about a possible loss of income to the hospital as a number of health authorities were signalling their intention of reducing contracts with it. However, the financial position of the hospital was only one of the issues which was considered. The main reason for agreeing the closure of the Royal orthopaedic hospital and reprovision of orthopaedic services on to one site was to improve the quality of care available to patients.