HC Deb 09 February 1982 vol 17 c332W
10. Mr. Norman Atkinson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that multi-site general hospitals can function efficiently as a coherent whole; and what views the medical professions have expressed to him on this matter.

Dr. Vaughan

The most suitable pattern of hospitals will vary with the locality and the particular needs of the local community. Many specialist consultants would prefer the main acute services on a single site. While I understand the argument for this, it needs to be balanced against other aspects such as patients' travelling times and the difficulties of managing very large institutions. We are taking full account of these factors in the new guidance on hospitals which we will issue shortly.