§ Mr. SkinnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will receive a deputation from the Retford hospital action committee to discuss keeping open Retford hospital;
756W
Number of notifications of all forms of acute meningitis and meningococcal meningitis; and death registrations of meningococcal infection (ICD 9 036) by approximate monthly period, England and Wales 1986–87 Notifications Deaths1 Period Acute Meningococcal Meningococcal infection 4 January 1986–31 January 1986 160 76 13 1 February 1986–28 February 1986 160 71 8 1 March 1986–28 March 1986 151 83 15 29 March 1986–2 May 1986 178 100 13 3 May 1986–30 May 1986 123 61 11 31 May 1986–27 June 1986 130 63 6 28 June 1986–1 August 1986 200 69 13 2 August 1986–29 August 1986 172 44 7 30 August 1986–3 October 1986 255 93 5 4 October 1986–31 October 1986 194 66 10 1 November 1986–28 November 1986 184 51 7 29 November 1986–2 January 1987 165 80 24 3 January 1987–30 January 1987 258 142 18 31 January 1987–27 February 1987 244 132 15 28 February 1987–27 March 1987 240 117 19 28 March 1987–1 May 1987 251 120 12 2 May 1987–29 May 1987 166 68 9 30 May 1987–26 June 1987 176 65 6 27 June 1987–31 July 1987 231 76 8 1 August 1987–28 August 1987 229 69 12 29 August 1987–2 October 1987 174 67 10 3 October 1987–30 October 1987 174 61 5 31 October 1987–27 November 1987 207 75 16 28 November 1987–1 January 1988 217 98 27 1 Provisional. (2) whether he will issue a directive to the Trent regional health authority to keep open Retford hospital;
(3) whether he will provide additional funds to the Trent regional health authority for the retention of Retford hospital;
(4) what steps he is taking to save Retford hospital from closure; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe management of local services is the responsibility of the district health authority concerned (in this case Bassetlaw). I understand that Bassetlaw DHA has temporarily closed two units within Retford hospital. This is a matter for local decision. Any proposal for permanent closure would need to be the subject of formal consultation and, if opposed by the community health council, would need to be submitted to Ministers for a final decision. My colleagues and I are always prepared to meet local deputations at that stage.
Trent regional health authority was allocated an additional £5.8 million in December for the financial year 1987–88. For 1988–89, the region's revenue allocation will be £1,050 million, an increase of 6.3 per cent. The hon. Member may wish to contact the regional chairman for details of the RHA's allocation to Bassetlaw.