§ Mrs. Jegerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what decision he has now reached about the future of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital.
§ Mr. EnnalsI asked my hon. Friend, the Minister of State, to receive three delegations, including my hon. Friends the Members for Holborn and St. Pancras, South (Mrs. Jeger) and St. Pancras, North (Mr. Stallard) and since then I have considered carefully the issues involved and the contents of the documents submitted by the delegations. I am convinced that if this special service for women to be attended by doctors of their own sex is to survive, it can only be from within a district general hospital. I am sure that it would be wrong to encourage the health authorities to spend our precious resources to restore and continue this small and ageing building which can never be developed to fulfil the proper functions of a modern acute hospital. The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital is now crippled by engineering breakdown and I am therefore urging the staffs of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital and the Whittington Hospital, the health authorities and all those concerned, to develop immediate interim facilities in the major specialties at the Whittington Hospital where EGA patients may be seen by their own consultants. I have asked the area health authority to aim to close all in-patient facilities on the Euston Road site by the end of the year although, of course, out-patient facilities will remain there for the time being. I earnestly hope that those who wish to see the type of service given by the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital continued in the future will take no action to prevent the establishment of interim facilities, for such action can result only in the cessation of services to the very patients whose interests they have at heart. The Camden298W and Islington AHA(T) is continuing to plan the reorganisation of the Whittington and Royal Northern Hospitals following the commissioning of the new diagnostic block at the Whittington when the final facilities for women may be housed more appropriately and the name of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson perpetuated.