§ Mr. Galleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is yet in a position to make a statement about the proposed new development at Guy's hospital, London.
§ Mr. FowlerI have today given approval in principle to a £35 million new development at Guy's hospital, London. The scheme is due to start in 1990 and should be completed by 1994. This is an imaginative and exciting development and I welcome the joint efforts of both Government and voluntary sources which have combined to make it possible.
One of the Government's priorities for the National Health Service is the continuing development and modernisation of hospitals enabling us to replace older facilities and re-shape services to meet health-care needs in an up-to-date way. The present plan to develop Guy's hospital is part of this process and will complete the rebuilding of this major teaching hospital. I am at the same time agreeing to the closure of New Cross hospital, and endorsing the South East Thames regional health authority's plans to provide an additional £300,000 capital and £500,000 a year of additional revenue from facilities to meet needs currently met at New Cross.
792WMajor contributions have been made to the cost of the Guy's development from the Guy's hospital trustees and from the splendid generosity of Sir Philip and Lady Harris, as well as the University Grants Committee and the central funds of the DHSS.
With 275 beds and 90 day places the new development will provide the latest in medical and psychiatric care, bringing together vital out-patient and rehabilitation facilities, together with an accident and emergency department. A range of supporting departments, teaching and research facilities will enhance the hospital's existing services, ensuring the hospital's key role well into the next century.
The scheme advances the strategy of Lewisham and North Southwark health district to concentrate its acute beds on two district hospital sites; at Lewisham in the south of the district and at Guy's in the north. These hospitals, some five miles apart, are well placed geographically to serve the population of the whole district. When the new building is opened, patients will have improved access to a full range of diagnostic equipment and high technology services at Guy's. At present many acute services, particularly those for the elderly, are based where such facilities are not available.
The district's strategy also incorporates new developments at Lewisham hospital and in the community. With the Guy's building it will entail the closure of New Cross hospital in 1987. New Cross has become uneconomic to run and is not well fitted to provide the modern facilities now required.
I have considered with the regional health authority special measures to ensure that patients currently treated at New Cross will continue to receive the treatment they require while the new services are being built up at Guy's and elsewhere. Some general medical and geriatric patients will move to Guy's and Hither Green; rheumatology patients will transfer to Lewisham hospital; psychogeriatric services will go to Guy's or new developments at New Cross.
On top of this the RHA will provide £300,000 capital and guarantee £500,000 revenue spending per year to enable Lewisham and Southwark to open two 24-hour observation wards, day surgery units where minor operations can be carried out and to maintain the use of medical ward at Hither Green hospital. The RHA will draw on the £30 million special fund set up by the Government to help regions receiving less than average national growth to cope with the transitional problems of change.
The South East Thames RHA will keep the position under review.