§ Mr. RichardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the development of NHS trusts in Wales. [19910]
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesThere are currently 30 NHS trusts in Wales.
My right hon. Friend and I have received a joint application from the Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS trusts to dissolve and create a new single trusts from April 1997. Public consultation on this application ended on 17 February 1997.
Taking full account of the many representations received, and of the individual merits of bringing the two trusts together, we have decided to approve the merger. The two existing trusts will both be dissolved on 1 April 1997 and immediately re-established as a single trust, Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS trust.