§ Mr. Newtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will list for each district in the Essex Health Area the population served at the latest available date, the percentage change in population over the previous five years or nearest convenient period, the expected change in population over the next five years or nearest convenient period, the main details of new hospitals or major improvements, respectively, completed since the inception of the National Health Service, and the main details of new hospitals or 409W major improvements currently planned, with their expected dates of completion.
§ Dr. OwenRecent population figures are given in my reply to the hon. Member's other Questions today. Information on population changes in the past and the future is not readily available. New hospitals have been built in Basildon and Thurrock and in Harlow Districts. At Orsett Hospital—Basildon and Thurrock District—two phases of a redeveloped hospital have been completed and one phase is still in progress. Major improvements have been carried out at South Ockenden—Basildon and Thurrock District—at Southend General Hospital and at St. Margaret's Hospital, Harlow. The regional health authority has plans under consideration for development of hospital services at Colchester. Chelmsford and Southend, and for further extension of services at Basildon and Harlow. It is not possible to estimate when these works will be completed.