HC Deb 01 February 1972 vol 830 cc60-1W
46. Mr. Boscawen

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to maintain and improve the standards of medicines available to patients within the Bath clinical area, as a result of the local government and health services reorganisation.

50 and 74. Mr. Charles Morrison

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if it is his intention that residents of West Wiltshire should continue to be served by the Bath clinical area following reorganisation of the National Health Service;

(2) if he will make a statement on the financial arrangements he intends to make in respect of the continued provision of services by the Bath clinical area for residents of West Wiltshire at present using it, following reorganisation of the National Health Service;

(3) if he will make a statement on the future of the Bath clinical area, following reorganisation of the National Health Service.

51. Mr. Walters

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the future of the Bath clinical area, with special reference to the needs of West Wiltshire.

52. Mr. Awdry

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the earliest date on which he anticipates he will be able to make a statement on his decision for the future of the Bath clinical area.

Sir K. Joseph

When the National Health Service is reorganised, the new area health authorities will have the same boundaries as the new counties. I shall announce regional health authority boundaries when I have completed local consultations. The reorganisation is designed to enable the development of medical services in the area to be maintained and improved. The new boundaries will not affect the use of Bath hospital services by Wiltshire or Somerset people, or links between general practitioners and the Bath hospitals. Regional financial allocations are at present adjusted to take account of services provided by one region to residents of another, and similar adjustments will be made in the reorganised Health Service.