§ Lord Blackwellasked Her Majesty's Government:
What expenditure has been authorised for the development of facilities, including equipping of existing new buildings, at Epsom General Hospital; and when that expenditure is planned to take place. [HL4107]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathA total of £18 million of Government modernisation funds and capital money from the London Regional Office of the National Health Service is being invested into schemes in hospitals across the capital designed to improve emergency services for Londoners.
Epsom A&E is being re-sited into a new building and has been given extra investment: the refurbishment project has been given approval to use £1.4 million from A&E modernisation funds and £0.94 million from Regional Office funding. The work has been put out to tender; the tenders will be evaluated in the next few weeks. Work will begin in November 2000, to be completed in the summer of 2001.
§ Lord Blackwellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there are any plans to reduce the scope of accident and emergency cover or maternity care at Epsom General Hospital as part of the integration with the St Helier National Health Service Trust. [HL4108]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThere are no agreed plans to change the level of services provided by the A&E and maternity departments at Epsom General Hospital. The trust is developing a Clinical Services Strategy. The trust will involve staff, patients and the public, together with local authorities, general practitioners, health authorities and community health councils in discussions to shape the future of services at both Epsom and St Helier Hospitals. Any proposed changes will be subject to formal consultation.