§ Lord Molloyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will intervene to resolve the problems afflicting Tadworth Court Hospital in Surrey and Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, to prevent the loss of Tadworth Court Hospital and reduction of beds in Great Ormond Street Hospital.
§ Lord TrefgarneThe Hospitals for Sick Children are seriously overspending on their allocation which has not been cut. The board of governors has a duty to control expenditure to within its cash limit and is therefore reviewing all the hospitals' activities. Should the board decide that Tadworth Court should be closed this proposal will be referred to Ministers for final decision. We shall obviously wish to consider very carefully all the representations we receive before coming to decisions on any proposals of the kind that may be put to us. The closure of beds at Great Ormond Street is a temporary measure pending the outcome of the review. Should the board propose to prolong the closure of these beds, this too will come to Ministers for final decision.