§ Mr. Tom Coxasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what survey is taken by his Department of the availability of local medical practitioners before a hospital in their area is closed; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. HayhoeDoctors and their representative organisations are always consulted when district health authorities propose closing a hospital. If the appropriate community health council does not oppose the closure, such cases are not referred to Ministers for a decision. Where the CHC does oppose the proposal and the case has to be referred to Ministers for a decision one of the items I would expect the consultation document to cover would be the level of medical cover available in the district in question.