HC Deb 10 June 1985 vol 80 cc360-1W
Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list such information as is available to him as to the companies and the sites of the proposed or actual private hospital developments where notification has not been given under section 14 of the Health Services Act 1976, as amended by the Health Services Act 1980; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

During 1984 it became clear that the requirement to notify us of proposed private hospital developments in advance of seeking planning permission was not sufficiently well known. We have, therefore, taken action to remind potential developers of this requirement. We have asked the Association of Independent Hospitals, the Independent Hospital Group, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Law Society to draw this to the attention of their members.

Whenever we become aware of any proposed development which appears to require notification we get in touch with the company responsible and ask that they complete the form of notification. All notifications are passed for information to the relevant district health authority. The late notifications received since January 1984 are in the table. We do not name companies who notify us of their intention because of the commercial nature of the information.

Late notifications received since January 1984
Number of beds
St. Vincents Road, Torquay* 40
Birchin Cross Road, Kemsing, Nr. Sevenoaks* 30
Bourn Hall Clinic, Cambridge† (replacing 30 beds in temporary accommodation) 42
The Sloane Hospital, London SE3† ‡64
The Garden Hospital, London NW4 (additional beds) 2
Beverley road, Anlaby, Hull (re-notification) 25
New Road, Impington, Cambridgeshire 25

Number of beds
New Hall Hospital, Bodenham, Salisbury (additional beds) 13
Ipswich Surgical Home, Suffolk (additional beds) 12
The Grosvenor Nuffield Hospital, Chester (additional beds) 10
The Wessex Nuffield Hospital, Chandlers Ford (additional beds) 12
*Included in list of notifications in Official Report, 28 March 1984, columns 219–220.
†Included in list of notifications in Official Report, 21 January 1985, column 330.
‡New company purchased site with planning permission—no trace of earlier notification.
║New company purchased site with planning permission—but re-notification required because of changes to proposal.