HC Deb 24 November 1987 vol 123 c163W
37. Mrs. Gordon

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will direct the Hampstead district health authority and North-East Thames regional health authority not to close more hospital beds at the royal free hospital over the next three years.

Mrs. Currie

No. Health authorities should be free to manage their facilities so as to provide the most effective service to their local populations. Ministerial directions would remove that freedom and could lead to an inefficient use of beds.