§ Mr. MacFarlaneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what type of patient the Henderson Hospital receives.
§ Dr. OwenThe Henderson Hospital is a specialised unit for the treatment within a therapeutic community of patients with personality disorders. The hospital accepts informal patients of both sexes over the age of 18 years, and the majority are under 30 years of age.
§ Mr. MacFarlaneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if a representative from her Department will visit the Henderson Hospital and report upon its condition.
§ Dr. OwenThere are no plans for representatives of the Department to visit this hospital at present. A visit was made by the Hospital Advisory Service last year, and its report is under consideration.
§ Mr. MacFarlaneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what will happen 586W to the land when the South-West Thames Regional Health Authority vacates the Belmont and Henderson Hospital in 18 months' time.
§ Dr. OwenWhen the Belmont and Henderson hospitals are eventually closed, it will be for the Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth Area Health Authority (Teaching) to consider, in consultation with the appropriate community health councils, whether there is any alternative health use to which these buildings or sites should be put. If they are not required for any further National Health Service purpose, then—as I explained in my reply to the hon. Member on 29th April—[Vol. 872, c. 365]—the usual procedures for disposal of surplus Government land will be put into operation.