§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what the criteria will be for the proposed emergency plan to place patients from the Chelmsford district in Basildon Hospital; what are the reasons for such a policy; what monitoring has taken place over the past six months concerning the possibility of a breakdown; how long such a plan is likely to be in operation; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. OwenThere is no plan to place patients from Chelmsford district into Basildon Hospital. The area health authority is considering how best to reduce the waiting lists for orthopaedic and ENT surgery in that district.