§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what studies have been undertaken regarding the feasibility of transporting out-patients and hospital visitors from the North Cambridge catchment area to the King's Lynn District General Hospital;
(2) in proposing the closure of Wisbech hospitals, what account has been taken by Norfolk Area Health Authority of the effect of such a move on local pride and good will;
(3) what is the present catchment population of North Cambridgeshire, Clarkson and Bowthorpe hospitals of Wisbech.
§ Mr. MoyleThe present catchment population of North Cambridgeshire. Clarkson and Bowthorpe hospitals is approximately 30,000, or about 18 per cent. of the total population served by hospitals in the district.
An extensive survey of the transport implications of the proposals for patients 549W and visitors from the North Cambridge areas is at present in progress. The area health authority has no reason to believe at this stage that people in and around Wisbech will have greater difficulty getting to the district general hospital than residents in other rural areas of the district.
The proposals for Wisbech hospitals aim to provide hospital services locally, so far as is compatible with a balanced comprehensive district service. The area health authority considers that under its proposals there will continue to be wide opportunities for local involvement.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the respective costs per bed of the North Cambridgeshire Hospital, Wisbech, and the projected cost at the King's Lynn District General Hospital.
§ Mr. MoyleAt the North Cambridgeshire Hospital, Wisbech, costs for the financial year 1976–77 were:
cost per in-patient week £248.82 cost per in-patient case £226.57 The anticipated costs for the King's Lynn District General Hospital, based upon the same level of pay and prices, and upon the anticipated workload and range of specialties has been calculated as:
cost per in-patient week £186.92 cost per in-patient case £280.82
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will make a statement on the reasons for the recommendation to close the Wisbech hospitals in the light of columns 15–14 and 15–18 in page 110 of the Cambridgeshire County Council's Structure Plan dated October 1977;
(2) who was made responsible for acquainting the Norfolk Area Health Authority of the proposals outlined for Wisbech hospitals in the Cambridgeshire consultative document.
§ Mr. MoyleI understand that Cambridgeshire County Council itself is responsible for seeking comments on the draft written statement on its structure plan, and that it is consulting Norfolk Area Health Authority. Norfolk Area Health Authority considers that it has provided for the needs of the population in and around Wisbech in the proposals for hospital provision in King's Lynn550W health district, as set out in its consultative document for reorganisation of the district consequent upon the opening of the new district general hospital. It has invited Cambridgeshire County Council, among others, to comment on its proposals and will take all comments received into account in making its final decision.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider writing or rewriting consultants' contracts to include a rotation clause so as to ensure full medical cover for Wisbech hospitals.
§ Mr. MoyleI am assured that the health authorities will ensure that there is medical cover for the hospitals in Wisbech.