§ Mr. Haynesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the waiting list of 2,000 for orthopaedic operations in Harlow Wood hospital, Mansfield, and in view of the small amount of capital investment needed to provide a new operating theatre which would increase the number of patients that could be treated, he will ensure that resources are available to open such a theatre and to maintain the ward which is proposed to be closed.
§ Dr. VaughanIt is for health authorities to determine within national and regional guidelines how the resources allocated to them are spent.
I understand that the plans of the AHA(T) to provide additional surgical facilities at Harlow Wood hospital depend on the availability of staff and on the revenue resources necessary to provide 213W the service: it is not able to provide at present for an increase in orthopaedic services at Harlow Wood. Formal consultations are taking place on the proposal of the AHA(T) that ward 4 at the hospital, which has been temporarily closed since February 1979, should remain closed indefinitely. No decision has yet been reached.