§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many signatures, letters and other representations he has now received concerning the closure of the emergency and accident unit at the Victoria Memorial Jewish Hospital, Manchester.
§ Sir K. JosephTo date I have received the petition with some 12,000 signatures from the hon. Member, 14 letters, four telegrams and one other inquiry from the hon. Member for Salford, West (Mr. Orme) on this issue.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whom he has now consulted concerning the closure of the emergency accident unit at the Victoria 447W Memorial Jewish Hospital, Manchester; and whether he has individually consulted any of the 11,000 persons whose signatures have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley.
§ Sir K. JosephManchester Regional Hospital Board with my approval has consulted the following bodies in the area who have an interest in this matter: the right hon. and hon. Members for Manchester, Cheetham (Mr. Harold Lever), Ashton-under-Lyne (Mr. Sheldon), Manchester, Exchange (Mr. Hatton), Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Marks), Middleton and Prestwich (Mr. Haselhurst), Manchester, Openshaw (Mr. Charles R. Morris), Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun), Salford, West (Mr. Orme), in addition to the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Rose), the local authorities, executive councils, local medical committees, trade unions, other hospital authorities, and the Lancashire Federation of Women's Institutes. A statement was also sent to local papers and Press agencies.
None of the signatories whose representations I have received from the hon. Member has been consulted as an individual. No decision will be made about the proposed closure until full consideration has been given to the views expressed both by individuals and by associations by the Manchester Regional Hospital Board, whose report I await.