§ Mr. Joplingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the latest start and completion dates for the new Kendal hospital, the estimated cost, and the number of people who will eventually be employed there compared with those currently employed in the hospitals in the area, together with the number of beds which will be provided compared with the current situation.
§ Mrs. Currie[holding answer 2 November 1987]: Work on the site for the new Westmorland general hospital commenced on 7 September this year. The scheme is scheduled for completion in September 1990, at an estimate total cost of £21.5 million, and will provide 304 in-patient beds, some of which will replace existing outdated facilities.
The day-to-day running of the hospital will be the responsibility of the South Cumbria health authority; I understand that 575 people (whole-time equivalents) are expected to be required, which is a net increase of 173 (whole-time equivalents).