§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what part he proposes that Harefield hospital should play in the supra-regional strategy for paediatric cardiac surgery; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe have accepted the recommendations of the supra-regional services advisory group that neonatal and infant cardiac surgery—that is cardiac surgery performed on children aged under one year—should be designated as a supra-regional service, and that nine units should be designated as supra-regional centres for its provision. We are now working on the implementation of this decision to set up a national service. The present list of designation centres does not include Harefield hospital. No special provision for funding the designated centres be made before 1985–86, and the phasing of any withdrawal of infant cardiac surgery from other hospitals will depend on the ability of the designated units to expand their activity in this field.
Region Finance Administrative and Clerical Medical Dental Nursing Work Other Northern — — — — — — — Yorkshire — — 2 1 — — — Trent — 2 3 — 1 — — East Anglian 1 1 4 — 2 1 — North West Thames 2 3 5 — 9 — ½ North East Thames — 3 5 — 1 — — South East Thames 2 12 4 — 8 — 1 South West Thames 2 1 3 1 8 — 1½ Wessex 1 4 1 3 6 — 3 Oxford 1 2 — 2 1 — — South Western — — 6 — 1 — — West Midlands 2 3 2 — 4 — — Mersey — — — 1 — — — North Western — 1 1 — 1 — — ENGLAND 11 32 36 8 42 — 6 I understand that some of these have ceased employment and a considerable number are on short-term appointments due to end shortly. We have asked chairmen of regional health authorities to review all current cases of re-employment to see whether they can be justified and to inform Ministers of the results of their review. Any further proposals to re-employ prematurely retired staff will require the approval of Ministers, which will be given only in exceptional and compelling circumstances.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to his answer of 7 March, Official