§ Mr. Welshasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what surveys or estimates have been carried out to show the effects of the transfer of two-thirds of 504W the present in-patient workload at Arbroath Infirmary to: (a) Ninewells, (b) Stracathro and (c) if divided equally, on the available public transport services to these hospitals; and what plans exist to hold discussions with the transport authorities involved with a view to providing extra convenient transport arrangements for visitors to these hospitals;
(2) what estimates exist to show the extra costs involved in transferring non-acute, convalescent patients from: (a) Stracathro and (b) Ninewells to Arbroath Infirmary as a consequence of present Tayside Health Board proposals for Arbroath Infirmary; and if he will give comparisons with the existing arrangements;
(3) if he will give figures to show inpatient costs in Ninewells, Stracathro and Arbroath Infirmary; and if he will give an estimate of the possible financial effects should the proposed transfer of in-patients take place as envisaged in the Tayside Health Board Working Party Report on the future of Arbroath Infirmary;
(4) if he will give figures to show the costs of staffing and performing minor surgery at Stracathro; if he will compare this with the present cost of providing these facilities at Arbroath Infirmary; and what effect the proposed change of function at Arbroath Infirmary will have on these costs;
(5) what will be the estimated increase in transport costs if two-thirds of present in-patient workload at Arbroath Infirmary is transferred to: (a) Stracathro, (b) Ninewells and (c) divided equally between these two hospitals.
§ Mr. Harry EwingThis information is not available centrally. I am asking Tayside Health Board to let the hon. Member know whether the information is readily available.