§ Mr. Whitlockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the local concern over proposals by the Nottinghamshire Area Health Authority (Teaching) to phase out medical, surgical, geriatric, obstetric and gynaecological services at Highbury Hospital, Nottingham, if he is satisfied that in formulating these proposals the area health authority (teaching) has taken fully into account the views of the local community.
§ Mr. MoyleResponsibility for determining the closure and changes of use of health service buildings rests with area health authorities, subject to adequate local consultation and the agreement of community health councils. These proposals, which have been public knowledge for some considerable time, will be the subject of widespread consultations by the area health authority (teaching) with local bodies, including community health councils and staff interests, before final decisions are taken.
§ Mr. Whitlockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what effect the proposals to phase out medical, surgical, geriatric, obstetric and gynaecological services at Highbury Hospital will have on these services overall to the local population.
§ Mr. MoyleThese and other proposals related to the opening of the University 19W Hospital mark the first step towards a significant improvement in hospital facilities for the people of Nottingham. Nottinghamshire AHA(T) proposes that the same level of acute medical and surgical in-patient services at present provided from four hospitals, including High-bury Hospital, will, in 1979–80, be provided at the University Hospital, supported by the General Hospital. Similarly, the obstetric and gynaecology beds at Highbury Hospital will be replaced, during the next few years, by new facilities at the University Hospital. The AHA(T) plans to replace the 22 geriatric beds at Highbury Hospital by at least 45 beds at the General Hospital.
§ Mr. Whitlockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what revenue savings the closure of the medical, surgical, geriatric, obstetric and gynaecology facilities at Highbury Hospital will effect.
§ Mr. MoyleApproximately £1.125 million will be released for the provision of health care services by Nottingham Area Health Authority (Teaching).
§ Mr. Whitlockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether closure of certain services at Highbury Hospital will involve loss of jobs for present staff.
§ Mr. MoyleProposals related to the opening of the New University Hospital call for the employment of more rather than less staff in the city's hospitals. It is likely that some staff will have to change their place of work but the area health authority (teaching) has already reached broad agreement with staff organisations on detailed arrangements to be made to protect the interests of staff and to minimise inconvenience to them.
§ Mr. Whitlockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what services for the mentally handicapped are to be provided in future at the Highbury Hospital, Nottingham.
§ Mr. MoyleThe 90 mental handicap beds at the hospital are to continue in use. In addition, a new 48-bed unit for mentally handicapped adults now being built on the hospital site is due to open in 1978.
§ Mr. Whitlockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the future 20W intended use of those parts of the Highbury Hospital, Nottingham, from which it is proposed to remove present facilities.
§ Mr. MoyleNottingham Area Health Authority (Teaching) plans to review the future use of vacated accommodation at Highbury Hospital and of other vacated health service accommodation in Nottingham before the first phase of the University Hospital opens in 1978–79.