§ Mr. Orbachasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether it is intended within the next 10 years to use the premises of the Stockport Infirmary as the accident and casualty centre for the whole of the catchment area of the Stockport and Buxton Management Group; and if this is so, when he expects the centre to be available and competently equipped and staffed for this purpose;
(2) what existing departments of the Stockport Infirmary are to be modernised or adapted; what new departments are to be created; when he expects the upgrading of this hospital to start; and when the work is to be completed;
(3) what submissions or plans his Department and/or the regional hospital board have received for the upgrading of Stockport Infirmary; whether any plans have been approved; and how much money has been allocated for this purpose.
§ Mr. AlisonThe accident service for the Stockport area will continue to be provided at Stockport Infirmary until the completion of major developments at Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, which are at any early stage of planning. I understand that the accident department at Stockport Infirmary is at present adequately equipped and staffed, but preliminary steps are being taken to decant the present accident department in order to allow the accommodation to be improved and enlarged. Work on this is expected to start about April 1973 and to be completed by about September 1974.
Accident services for the Buxton area are provided at Buxton.
The upgrading of Stockport Infirmary began some years ago. When the accident department scheme is completed, the board's present plans for upgrading of the hospital will also have been completed. The total estimated cost of the upgrading is some £350,000.