§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the original, full pre-construction and construction schedule for the nucleus hospital at Woodside in Newham; if work started last month; and if he will publish the revised programme.
§ Mr. MoyleThe hope expressed when the start was authorised in August 1975 was for completion of the first phase by the end of 1979.
Following preliminary work the North East Thames Regional Health Authority appointed design consultants in autumn 1976 and estimates made then were for major precontract site works to start in mid 1977 with the main contract following in 1978.
This is the first nucleus hospital to use my Departments' standardised designs and problems have taken longer to resolve than expected. The current programme is for precontract piling, roads and drains to be completed in 1978 with a start on the main contract in the first quarter of 1979. This would enable the hospital to accept patients before the end of 1982.