§ Mr. LathamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he will set out in tabular form, identifying the unit in each case(a) how many isolated general practitioner maternity units have been closed in each year sice 1979 and (b) how many integrated general practitioner maternity units have been closed over each period;
(2) whether he will set out in tabular form, identifying the unit in each case, the number of (a) isolated and (b) integrated general practitioner maternity units where a formal decision has been taken and published to close the unit, indicating where appropriate when the decision by Ministers is awaited following a formal objection by the community health council.
§ Mr. FreemanThe table lists GP maternity units which we are aware have been approved for partial or total closure following public consultation. The period covered is from 1979 to end 1987, the latest date for which details are available, although there were no cases in 1987.
Cases currently awaiting ministerial decision are lifted at the end.
"Isolated" is taken to mean not part of a district general hospital. All cases are isolated unless stated.
795W
Hospital Area/District Type Year Ashgate Maternity Home North Derbyshire T 1983 Chase Hospital Mid Staffordshire P 1983 Wendover Maternity Unit Southmead T 1983 Alexandra Maternity Hospital Plymouth T 1983 Woodgages Maternity Home1 East Yorkshire T 1984 Darley Hall Maternity North Derbyshire T 1984 Corbar Hall Maternity North Derbyshire T 1984 Westbury Maternity Milton Keynes T 1984 Westminster Memorial1 Wiltshire P 1984 Wellington Maternity Home Somerset T 1984 Leek Memorial North Staffordshire T 1984 Queen Mary Maternity House South Derbyshire T 1986 Phyllis Memorial Home East Suffolk T 1986 Market Harborough Leicestershire P 1986 Rutland Memorial Leicestershire P 1986 St. Mary's Melton Mowbray Leicestershire P 1986 Ashby de la Zouch Leicestershire P 1986 Isebrook Kettering P 1986 Ashcombe House Bristol and Weston T 1986 Rossendale General2 Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale P 1986 1 Ministerial decision. 2 Integrated unit. Note: The Leek Memorial hospital is, in fact, still open but is scheduled to close this year.
Cases currently with Ministers
Partial closures at Sandleford, Wokingham and Townlands hospitals—all West Berkshire.
St. Paul's maternity unit, Hemel Hempstead hospital, North-West Hertfordshire.
§ Mr. LathamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will set out in tabular form, identifying the unit in each case, the number of(a) isolated and (b) integrated general practitioner maternity units which are currently the subject of public consultation on closure.
§ Mr. FreemanThe information requested is not available centrally.
§ Mr. LathamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will list by name and date since 1979(a) the isolated and (b) the integrated general practitioner rural maternity units where Ministers have rejected a closure proposal, following an adverse report from the community health council; and which of these units remain open.
§ Mr. FreemanWe are aware of two such cases.
In 1984 proposals to close GP maternity beds at Amersham general hospital (integrated unit) and Crowborough war memorial hospital (isolated unit) were rejected by Ministers. The beds at Amersham are currently closed for redecoration; those at Crowborough remain open.