HC Deb 18 June 1985 vol 81 cc109-10W
Mr. Gould

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans there are for the closure of the Soho hospital for women.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Bloomsbury health authority's document "Towards a Strategy" proposes the closure of the Hospital for Women, Soho square, by 31 March 1989 as part of its long-term plans to centralise inpatient gynaecological services at University College hospital. If

Table (a)
Speech Therapists
Part-time staff by grade and sex as at 30 September 1983*England
Part-time number Whole-time equivalent†
Grade Total Male Female Total Male Female
District Senior Chief 2 2 1 1
District Chief I 1 1 1 1
District Chief II 2 2 1 1
Chief III 12 12 9 9
Chief IV 60 60 34 34

the authority decides to proceed with this proposal it must be subject to the usual consultation procedures and, if the closure is opposed by the Community Health Council, it will be referred to Ministers for a final decision. I understand that at its May meeting the health authority agreed to close two wards at the hospital in early June on a temporary basis pending consultation on their permanent closure.