§ 51. Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will visit Forest hospital, Buckhurst Hill and Honey Lane hospital, Waltham Abbey; and if he will invite the chairman of the North-East Thames regional health authority to accompany him.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeForest hospital and Honey Lane hospital are both under consideration for closure and re-provision of their services elsewhere. If the district health authorities concerned—Waltham Forest and West Essex —decide to proceed and their proposals are opposed by the relevant community health councils, the matter will be 115W referred via North-East-Thames regional health authority to Ministers for a final decision. I do not think that it would be appropriate therefore for Ministers to visit the hospitals or comment on the proposals at this stage.