§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he is fully satisfied that the practice of medicine and the health of the people in the London borough of Hillingdon will not be jeopardised by the proposal of the Hillingdon Area Health Authority to close Hillingdon, Mount Vernon and Harefield Hospitals for all but emergencies for a period of three weeks over Christmas; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what estimate has been made of the effect on out-patient waiting lists, following the proposal of the Hillingdon Area Health Authority to close Hillingdon, Mount Vernon and Harefield Hospitals for all but emergencies for three 630W weeks over Christmas; and what is the earliest date that appointments are being offered to patients for out-patient treatment in 1977;
(3) if, in view of the fact that a delay of three weeks in instituting diagnostic investigations involving patients dependent upon the availability of non-emergency facilities at Hillingdon, Mount Vernon and Harefield Hospitals during the proposed three-week period of closure over Christmas may affect the recovery, or the quality of the recovery in certain cases, he will ensure that such facilities are made available to general practitioners in the Hillingdon area.
§ Mr. MoyleIt is normal practice for there to be a significant decrease in the amount of non-urgent in-patient work over the Christmas-New Year period, including ward closures. This year the Area Health Authority decided to formalise the arrangements to facilitate forward planning. No significant adverse effect on services is anticipated. Accident and emergency departments, other services for those in need or urgent attention, out-patient and diagnostic facilities for general practitioners will not be affected.