§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why he has not required the health authorities to undertake full consultation procedures on his altered rationalisation plan which includes the closure of the Eltham and Mottingham Hospital and the Memorial Hospital, in view of the desire of local people to develop a more satisfactory plan; and whether the area health authority can itself decide to undertake full consultation.
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§ Mr. Moyle, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th December 1977; Vol. 941, c. 592–3], gave the following information:
There has been prolonged public debate on the rationalisation of services in this area. My right hon. Friend visited the area, met hon. Members, community health councils and staff representatives and received deputations. He has agreed to some of the proposals submitted to him by the health authorities, including the closure of the acute beds and casualty department at the Eltham and Mottingham Hospital. He has, however, suggested alternative proposals to the closure of St. Nicholas Hospital and has asked for views on these proposals to be sent direct to him. The area health authority is free to undertake further consultation if it wishes, but I do not believe this to be necessary.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what are his past and future estimates of the catchment population in the Greenwich and Bexley Area Health Authority; (2) what is the degree of over-provision of acute beds in the Greenwich and Bexley Area Health Authority.
§ Mr. Moyle, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th December 1977; Vol. 941, c. 592–3], gave the following information:
Catchment population estimates are
1975 407,655 1981 372,400 Over-provision is calculated at about 300 beds on 1975 population and about 400 beds on 1981 population.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the reasons for waiting lists at the Brook Hospital.
§ Mr. Moyle, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th December 1977; Vol. 941, c. 592–3], gave the following information:
The length of waiting lists and waiting times for admission to hospital is influenced by a number of interacting factors, including changes in the age structure of the population and in morbidity, the referral practice of general practitioners, consultants' clinical decisions, availability of 745W resources, management efficiency and seasonal influences.
At 30th September 1977 there were 392 cases on the Brook General waiting list. No urgent cases had waited more than a month, and only 38 non-urgent cases had waited more than a year—35 orthopaedic and three geriatric. The orthopaedic wait results from demand for prosthetic surgery and a very high level of trauma emergency admissions. The geriatric situation will be reviewed by the newly appointed geriatrician.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what effect the closure of the Eltham and Mottingham Hospital would have on waiting lists at the Brook Hospital;
(2) how many patients at the Eltham and Mottingham Hospital are transferred from other hospitals; and for what reasons.
§ Mr. Moyle, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th December 1977; Vol. 941, c. 592–3], gave the following information:
In 1976, 423 in-patients, the majority being post-operative patients from the Brook Hospital, were transferred. Closure of beds at the Eltham and Mottingham Hospital may lead at first to some in-
WATTING LIST BY SPECIALTY December 1974 December 1975 December 1976 December 1977 Brook General (exclude regional specialties) Medical … … … … … 1 2 — — Geriatrics* … … … … … 40 47 46 26 Surgical … … … … … 346 304 248 92 Ear, Nose and Throat … … … 78 55 52 83 Orthopaedic … … … … … 102 122 111 87 Urology … … … … … 111 34 40 39 Dental … … … … … 8 1 — — Total … … … … … 686 565 487 327 Eltham and Mottingham Surgical … … … … … 173 104 68 67 Orthopaedic … … … … … 59 40 16 3 Total … … … … … 232 144 84 70 Memorial Geriatrics … … … … … (See under Brook General) Gynaecology … … … … … 100 104 45 Not applicable * Joint list with Memorial.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, what are the estimated financial savings result-
746Wcrease in waiting lists at the Brook Hospital, but redistribution of surgical work in the district should improve the position.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the weekly costs of a convalescent patient at the Greenwich District Hospital, the Brook Hospital, and the Eltham and Mottingham Hospital, respectively.
§ Mr. Moyle, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th December 1977; Vol. 941, c. 592–3], gave the following information:
Costs of particular phases of treatment are not separately identified.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give details of the waiting lists in 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977 for admission to hospital for surgery, treatment or care for categories of conditions at the Brook Hospital, the Eltham and Mottingham Hospital, and the Memorial Hospital, respectively.
§ Mr. Moyle, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th December 1977; Vol. 941, c. 592–3], gave the following information:
ing from the temporary and permanent closure of 300 beds at the Greenwich District Hospital.
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§ Mr. Moyle, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th December 1977; Vol. 941, c. 592–3], gave the following information:
On the basis of broad assumptions about the nature of the 300 beds, £1 million per year is estimated for permanent closure and £100,000 for temporary closure.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, what are the existing uses of the Eltham and Mottingham Hospital and the Memorial Hospital.
§ Mr. Moyle, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th December 1977; Vol. 941, c. 592–3], gave the following information:
Eltham and Mottingham Hospital provides in-patient services for surgery, orthopaedics, dermatology, urology, physical medicine, general practitioner medicine and geriatrics and out-patient facilities including X-ray and physiotherapy. The Memorial Hospital provides in-patient services for geriatrics, outpatient facilities including X-ray and pharmacy, and offices for district staff.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many acute beds there are in the Greenwich District Hospital.
§ Mr. Moyle, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th December 1977; Vol. 941, c. 592–3], gave the following information:
In 1976 the average daily number of acute beds was 377.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many acute beds there are in the Eltham and Mottingham Hospital and the Memorial Hospital.
§ Mr. Moyle, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th December 1977; Vol. 941, c. 592–3], gave the following information:
In 1976 the average daily acute usage of beds at the Eltham and Mottingham
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Eltham and Mottingham Hospital Brook General Hospital Greenwich District Hospital Bed Occupancy (measured at midnight) … 70 per cent. 83 per cent. 78 per cent. Cost per in-patient day … … … … £21.10 £41.82 £36.56 Hospital was 24. There are no acute beds now in use at the Memorial Hospital.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give an assurance that the future of the Brook Hospital will not be threatened during the next 10 years.
§ Mr. Moyle, pursuant to his reply, [Official Report, 16th December 1977; Vol. 941, c. 592–3], gave the following information:
The future of hospitals is a matter in the first instance for the health authorities concerned. I am grateful to the hon. Member for his confidence that I shall remain in office for the next 10 years.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services of State for Social Services what letters, petitions and representations he has received concerning the fuvour of the hospital remaining open.
§ Mr. Moyle, pursuant to his reply, [Official Report, 16th December 1977; Vol, 941, c. 592–3], gave the following information
We have received representations from the London borough of Greenwich and from the Bexley and Greenwich Community Health Councils, a petition sighed by 33 representatives of various organisations and letters from four members of the public, including a doctor on the staff of the hospital. All were in favour of the hospital remaining open.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish comparative bed occupancy rates and cost estimates for the Eltham and Mottingham Hospital, the Brook hospital; and if he will indicate at what time of day the bed occupancy is measured.
§ Mr. Moyle, pursuant to his reply, [Official Report, 16th December 1977; Vol, 941, c. 592–3], gave the following information:
For year ended 31st March 1977 figures are:
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§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whethere the Greenwich and Bexley Area Health Authority recommended the closure of the Memorial Hospital;
(2) if he will make a detailed statement of his reasons for the closure of the Memorial Hospital.
§ Mr. Moyle, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th December 1977; Vol. 941, c. 592–3], gave the following information:
The area health authority recommended the closure of the maternity and gynaecology beds at the Memorial Hospital. Services in this area are fragmented, and we have proposed the transfer of the geriatric services from the Memorial Hospital in order that full use might be made of facilities at St. Nicholas Hospital when the present number of acute beds has been reduced.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether the Greenwich and Bexley Area Health Authority recommened the closure of the Eltham and Mottingham Hospital;
(2) why he believes that Eltham and Mottingham Hospital has been under-occupied for a long time; and why he believes that services it has given can be provided more effectively in the area;
(3) if he will make a detailed statement of his reasons for asking for the closure of the Eltham and Mottingham Hospital.
§ Mr. Moyle, pursuant to his reply, [Official Report, 16th December 1977; Vol, 941, c. 592–3], gave the following information:
The Greenwich and Bexley area, as a result of declining population and construction of new hospitals, is overprovided with acute beds and services are fragmented. The area health authority recommended the closure of the wards and casualty department at this hospital. One floor cannot be fully used and the operating theatre arrangements do not accord with acceptable modern standards. More intensive use of the major general hospitals in the area should provide a more effective service.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are 750W the alternative uses planned for the buildings and lands of the Eltham and Mottingham Hospital and the Memorial Hospital.
§ Mr. Moyle, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th December 1977; Vol. 941, c. 592–3], gave the following information:
Alternative uses for the Memorial Hospital have not yet been considered. At Eltham and Mottingham Hospital outpatient services are to continue; the area health authority proposes to build a health centre in the grounds and is considering transfer of geriatric services from the Gables.