§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) why the decision was taken to close St. John's hospital, Droitwich, specialising in the treatment of rheumatic diseases; when it is to close; and if he will examine the circumstances leading to this decision with 390W a view to ensuring that the hospital remains open;
(2) how many patients from Wolverhampton and from Cannock, Bilston, Sedgeley, Kinver, Stourbridge, Wombourne, Dudley, West Bromwich, Birmingham, Leicester, Kalveen, Evesham, Gloucester, Worcester, Kent, Swansea and London have received treatment at St. John's Droitwich, during each of the last 10 years;
(3) what arrangements are to be made to provide similar treatment to that provided by St. John's hospital, Droitwich, for patients suffering from crippling diseases, in the event of the closure of the hospital.
§ Sir George YoungNo such decision has been taken. I understand that the Bromsgrove and Redditch district management team has reported to Hereford and Worcester area health authority that it is looking at possible closures and the provision of services from alternative locations. The authority has expressed no opinion about the proposal to close St. John's and has yet to decide whether to institute formal consultation procedures. Information on patients' addresses is not held centrally, nor could it be obtained locally except at disproportionate cost.