§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, if the temporary closure of hospitals needs his endorsement; if such a closure leads to a permanent closure; if a community health council has the power to make direct representations to him in order to prevent such a closure; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. OwenTemporary closure or change of use is a matter of local day-to-day management, and endorsement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is not required. The community health council should be informed of substantial temporary closures as soon as possible. If closure is to be permanent, the area health authority consults, amongst others, the community health council. If the council agrees, my right hon. Friend need not be consulted. If it objects the procedure is that the council submits to the AHA a constructive counter-proposal, the AHA considers this and makes recommendations to the regional health authority; if the regional health authority does not accept the views of the council and proposes to proceed with the closure, it seeks my right hon. Friend's approval. A community health council can make direct representations to my right hon. Friend, but he would already be aware of its views through the regional health authority and would in any event give them full weight in reaching his decision.