§ Mr. Mayhewasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish the plans that have been prepared by her Department for a new accident and emergency department to replace the casualty facilities already existing at the Pembury Hospital and the Kent and Sussex Hospital, Tunbridge Wells; and what is the estimated cost of implementing the scheme immediately.
§ Dr. OwenThese plans are being prepared by the South East Thames Regional Health Authority and, although they have not been finalised, preliminary indications are that the cost of implementation would exceed £2 million.
§ Mr. Mayhewasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the provisions of Hospital Building Note No. 22 represent Government policy; and whether she is aware that the joint accident and emergency department of the Kent and Sussex Hospital and the Pembury Hospital occupy less than one-third of the area stipulated by that note.
§ Dr. OwenThe information in hospital building notes provide guidance for use by health authorities in planning new developments and I am aware of the shortcomings of the joint accident and emergency department in Tunbridge Wells.
336W
§ Mr. Mayhewasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what proposals she has for the improvement of the facilities of the casualty department at Pembury Hospital; and when she expects to implement them;
(2) what proposals she has for the improvement of the facilities of the casualty department at the Kent and Sussex Hospital, Tunbridge Wells; and when she expects to implement them.
§ Dr. OwenSouth East Thames Regional Health Authority plan to rationalise and improve the accident and emergency service for the Tunbridge Wells Health District by integrating the present joint departments at Pembury Hospital and the Kent and Sussex Hospital in a new unit at the Kent and Sussex Hospital. The timing of this development is uncertain due to the need to take account of competing claims on resources.
§ Mr. Mayhewasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations she has had from the Kent Health Authority as to the adequacy of the casualty department at the Pembury Hospital, and the Kent and Sussex Hospital, Tunbridge Wells; and how long she proposes that each should continue with its present facilities.
§ Dr. OwenThe South East Thames Regional Health Authority, as the appropriate body responsible for the overall planning of services in the region, has received representations from the Kent Area Health Authority about the deficiences in the present department, but because of constraints on resources the regional health authority is unable to say how quickly these deficiencies can be remedied.