§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many operating theatres have been closed and for how long at the Queen Alexandra hospital in Portsmouth; and what effect this has had on the hospital's waiting lists.
§ Mr. WhitneyI understand from the district health authority that all 14 main operating theatres at Queen Alexandra hospital, Portsmouth will close for essential repairs on 18 August. The work will not be complete until February 1987 although it is hoped to reopen some theatres before then. The authority is making every effort to ensure that the impact on patient care is kept to a minimum by taking on work elsewhere but up to 600 non-urgent operations may be delayed.