HC Deb 01 July 1999 vol 334 c275W
Mr. Reed

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 11 May 1999,Official Report, column 133, when he expects the National Health Service Executive to make a final response to the full business case made by Leicestershire and Rutland Healthcare NHS Trust for the replacement of Loughborough's General Hospital. [88595]

Mr. Denham

The National Health Service Executive provided a detailed response to Leicestershire and Rutland Healthcare NHS Trust about their Full Business Case (FBC) to replace Loughborough General Hospital on 3 June 1999.

The NHS Executive has not been able to make a formal decision on the recommendation of the FBC as further work is required on some key elements of the FBC, including issues relating to the scheme's value for money.

The trust is currently working on responses to the issues raised by the NHS Executive and is to set a timescale for the FBC to be resubmitted. In view of the length of time that it has taken to progress this scheme, the NHS Executive will be having meetings with the trust as a matter of urgency to resolve the above issues and progress the scheme to resolution.