§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress is being made on the provision of improved hospital services in the Macclesfield and Congleton area; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. OwenUpgrading of two wards at the Macclesfield Infirmary will start next month and it is expected to let contracts to extend the X-ray and microbiology departments at this hospital and the X-ray department at West Park Hospital within the next three months. Other small improvement schemes are being planned and will be considered for inclusion in next year's programme to be drawn up when capital allocations to Authorities have been announced. The Mersey Regional Health Authority has also approved that planning should proceed on a new district general hospital for Macclesfield, but in the present financial climate no indication of a start date can be given.