§ Mrs. Wiseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what powers consultants have to decide the use to which hospitals should be put; how it is that a disagreement between consultants about the use of beds for psycho-geriatric as well as geriatric patients has caused a new Coventry hospital to be unused for six months; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent this happening in future.
§ Dr. OwenNone, but a hospital can function only if the consultant and other staff are prepared to work there. The present difficulty in Coventry has arisen because the area health authority wishes to use part of the new 196-bedded unit planned for geriatric patients for psycho-geriatric patients. Discussions are taking place with the consultants and other interests concerned and I hope that agreement will be reached shortly. The aim in future must be to complete such consultation before a new building is ready, but there is no way I can ensure that this will always happen.