§ Mr. ViggersTo ask the Prime Minister how many letters he has received concerning the future of the Royal Hospital, Haslar; and of these, how many supported its closure, and how many opposed it. [85554]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 8 June 1999]My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence published the Government's proposals for the reorganisation and restructuring of Defence Medical Services in a written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, North (Mr. Rapson) on 14 December 1998,Official Report, columns 328–29. The proposals are subject to consultation with the local community and others.
The restructuring of secondary care arrangements is a key component of the Government's proposals. These include the establishment of a new Centre for Defence Medicine as a centre of excellence for research and training, and a new Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit in Portsmouth. It is intended that the Royal Hospital, Haslar should only close once the new arrangements in Portsmouth are in place.
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§ Mr. DenhamThe Department does not collect information on individual procedures. The latest information available on inpatient and outpatient orthopaedic waiting times for Devon and Cornwall is shown in the tables:
Since December 1998 my office has received an average of four letters per week regarding the future of the Royal Hospital, Haslar. The vast majority were against the proposed closure.