§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Social Services which of the following hospitals in the Crewe Health District he proposes to re-open in the near future: Coppenhall Hospital, Linden Grange Hospital, Crewe Memorial Hospital, Alvaston Hospital, the Albert Infirmary, Winsford and Nantwich Cottage Hospital.
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§ Dr. OwenThe Cheshire Area Health Authority has no intention of reopening any of these hospitals in the near future.
§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average number of applicants for each nursing vacancy in each of the years 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975 at the following hospitals: Leighton Hospital, Tarporley War Memorial Hospital, The Grange Hospital, Weaverham, Davenham Hospital, Northwich Victoria Infirmary, Arclid Hospital and Oakmere Rehabilitation Centre.
§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice he has received from the Mid-Cheshire Divisional Medical Committee on the proposed closures of: (a) Tarporley War Memorial Hospital, (b) Davenham Hospital and (c) Oakmere Rehabilitation Centre.
§ Dr. OwenNone, but it has expressed to the Crewe district management team its opinion that the accident and emergency department at Tarporley Hospital
Percentage bed occupancy 1972 1973 1974 1975 Current waiting period Northwich—Victoria Infirmary … 70.66 68.42 72.00 69.14 None Tarporley—War Memorial Hospital … 83.00 77.01 82.00 85.71 Under six months Barony Hospital: (i) Geriatric … 97.53 95.71 96.62 97.56 Under six months (ii) Mental Illness … 91.88 92.66 86.26 76.96 None Arclid Hospital … 98.60 97.20 96.13 97.33 Under six months Grange, Weaverham … 89.75 93.70 93.21 93.21 Under six months Davenham Hospital: (i) Geriatric … 98.00 98.12 97.45 98.07 Under six months (ii) Maternity GP … 55.02 40.00 39.10 31.11 None Oakmere Rehabilitation Centre … 47.63 44.76 29.81 38.90 None Grange Hall Hospital … 93.71 92.06 93.04 92.93 See note (1) Mary Dendy Hospital … 87.23 94.41 96.09 96.45 See note (2) Parklands Hospital … 90.00 90.00 97.00 87.00 Under six months Wrenbury Hostel … 88.89 94.44 93.78 90.55 None Tabley Agricultural Hostel … 83.33 83.33 81.11 80.10 None Notes:
(1) Of 40 patients waiting, four have waited under six months, six between six months and one year 18 between one and two years, and 12 have waited over two years.
(2) Of 13 patients waiting, six have waited under six months, two between six months and one year, three between one and two years, and two have waited over two years.
§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many outpatients attended the following hospitals in 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975: (a) Leigh
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1972 1973 1974 1975 Leighton Hospital … … 52,475 68,903 77,492 68,374 Tarporley War Memorial Hospital … … Nil Nil Nil Nil Victoria Infirmary Northwich … … 11,438 10,857 10,089 8,972 should be retained and has reported its unanimous agreement that general practitioner maternity beds should be retained in the Northwich area and has suggested that in the present financial situation the size of the maternity unit at Davenham might be reduced so as to comprise the labour ward suite and six beds only. The committee has given no advice about the future of Oakmere Rehabilitation Centre.
§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the percentage occupancy of beds in 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975 and what is the length of the current waiting period for beds in the following hospitals and specialities: (a) Northwich Victoria Infirmary, (b) Tarporley War Memorial Hospital, (c) Barony Hospital, Nantwich (i) geriatrics and (ii) mental illness, (d) Arclid Hospital, (e) The Grange, Weaver-ham, (f) Davenham Hospital (i) geriatrics and (ii) general practitioner maternity, (g) Oakmere Rehabilitation Centre, (h) Grange Hall Hospital, (i) Mary Dendy Hospital, (j) Parklands Hospital, (k) Wrenbury Hostel and (l) Tabley Agricultural Hostel.
§ Dr. OwenFollowing are the figures:
ton Hospital, (b) Tarporley War Memorial Hospital and (c) Northwich Victoria Infirmary.
§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice he has received from the Crewe Community Health Council on the proposed closures of (a) Tarporley War Memorial Hospital, (b) Davenham Hospital and (c) Oakmere Rehabilitation Centre.
§ Dr OwenNone. I am aware that the Crewe Community Health Council has advised the area health authority of its objection to the proposed closure of Oak-mere Rehabilitation Centre, and I have recently received six letters from hon. Members bringing the community health council's views to my notice. The Cheshire Area Health Authority has not as yet commenced formal consultations about the proposed closures of Tarporley War Memorial and Davenham Hospital.
§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what advice he has received from the joint committee of representatives from the Cheshire Area Health Authority, the Vale Rural District Council and the Social Services Committee on the proposed closures of: (a) Tarporley War Memorial Hospital, (b) Davenham Hospital and (c) Oakmere Rehabilitation Centre;
(2) what advice he has received from the Cheshire County Council Social Services committee on the proposed closures of: (a) Tarporley War Memorial Hospital, (b) Davenham Hospital and (c) Oakmere Rehabilitation Centre;
(3) what advice he has received from the Vale Rural District Social Services Advisory Committee on the proposed closures of (a) Tarporley War Memorial Hospital, (b) Davenham Hospital and (c) Oakmere Rehabilitation Centre.
§ Dr. OwenNone. The Cheshire Area Health Authority has not as yet commenced formal consultations about the proposed closures of Tarporley War Memorial Hospital and Davenham Hospital. The proposed closure of Oakmere Rehabilitation Centre will be discussed in September by the Joint Consultative Committee, which includes representatives of Cheshire County Council, Vale Rural District Council and the area health authority.
§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice he 232W has received from the Confederation of Health Service Employees on the proposed closures of (a) Tarporley War Memorial Hospital, (b) Davenham Hospital and (c) Oakmere Rehabilitation Centre.
§ Dr. OwenNone. The Cheshire Area Health Authority has not yet commenced formal consultations about the proposed closures of Tarporley War Memorial Hospital and Davenham Hospital. The authority has consulted the Confederation of Health Services Employees about the proposed closure of Oakmere Rehabilitation Centre but has not yet received the comments of the confederation.
§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals his Department has for the future hospital services in the Crewe health district.
§ Dr. OwenThe area health authority is in course of preparing its strategic plan for the future pattern of the health services in Cheshire.
§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consultation procedures, and with whom, his Department has conducted in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976 in formulating its proposals for the future of hospital services in the Crewe health district.
§ Dr. OwenPrior to NHS reorganisation in April 1974, the Manchester Regional Hospital Board made proposals to my Department for the reorganisation of hospital services in this part of Cheshire and they were discussed at length between the regional board and my Department. Since reorganisation, the Cheshire Area Health Authority has been considering the future of hospital services in Crewe health District and has been conducting local consultation with all interested parties including the community health council. Any formal proposal by an area health authority for the change of use of a health building will be notified to my Department.
§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in the event of the Crewe Community Health Council not agreeing to the closure of Tarporley 233W War Memorial Hospital, the Oakmere Rehabilitation Centre and Davenham Hospital, what criteria he will have in mind in reaching his decision.
§ Dr. OwenThe Circular HSC(IS)207 sent to all health authorities in October 1975 set out the procedures to be followed in relation to proposals for the closure or change of use of health buildings. If a proposal to close Tarporley War Memorial Hospital, Oakmere Rehabilitation Centre or Davenham Hospital were referred for my right hon. Friend's decision, he would include in his consideration the following factors: the health authority's reasons for the proposal, any constructive alternative proposals submitted by the community health council concerned—which take due account of the overall resources position, the possibilities for the future use of the facilities or for disposaal of the site, proposals for alternative employment of the staff, the relationship between the proposed closure and other plans of the health authorities, the overall need for specialised services, and the implications for patients.
§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be future policy of his Department towards community hospitals in the Cheshire health area.
§ Dr. OwenThe circular HSC(IS)75 and an enclosed guidance memorandum sent to all health authorities in August 1974 set out my Department's policy on community hospitals. It is for each area health authority to plan community hospitals in the light of local circumstances, within the general principles suggested in the memorandum. The Cheshire Area Health Authority is currently considering the need for community hospitals in the county.
§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the annual cost of Davenham Hospital;
(2) what is annual cost of the Oakmere Rehabilitation Centre;
(3) what is the annual cost of Tarporley War Memorial Hospital.
§ Dr. OwenThe information is as follows:234W
Hospital Cost for financial year 1975/76 (£'000) Davenham Hospital 169.4 Oakmere Centre Rehabilitation 93.0 Tamporley Hospital War Memorial 64.9