§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many of the units expressing interest in self-governing status have complied with paragraph 5.3 of the self-governing hospitals working paper No. 1; and if he will take steps to require the remainder to do so;
(2) if he will list those units contained in his list of medical units expressing interest in becoming self-governing who have consulted staff and patient representatives and have met with their approval;
(3) when considering applications for self-governing status from ambulance services, whether he intends consulting other emergency services; and if he will make a statement;
(4) whether he intends to consult medical staff and patient representatives when making a decision to approve or disapprove applications for self-governing status in light of his commitment to judge whether the changes would be in the interests of the National Health Service, hospitals and patients.
§ Mr. Mellor[holding answer 12 June 1989]: Expressions of interest are no more than that. We are aware that in many cases informal consultation has taken place but it would be unrealistic to engage in formal consultation at this stage, because people may not have enough information to give an informed opinion. All the main interests—including staff and the local community—will have an opportunity to express their views when detailed proposals have been worked up. We will take all responses into account when deciding whether to approve an application.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those units that are entire hospitals with 250 beds or over contained in his list of units expressing interest in becoming self-governing.
§ Mr. Mellor[holding answer 12 June 1989]: The information is not available in the form requested. The table lists those units which include entire hospitals with 250 beds or over:
Northern Regional Health Authority
- Darlington—hospital and community services
- Freeman Hospital, Newcastle
- Hartlepool District
- Mental Illness Services in Gateshead
- Newcastle General Hospital
- Newcastle Mental Health Unit
- Northgate Hospital
- North Tyneside District
Yorkshire Regional Health Authority
- Bradford—Acute Hospital Trust
- Calderdale Hospitals, Calderdale HA
430 - General Infirmary, Leeds and associated Units—Leeds Western
- Grimsby DGH and associated services
- High Royds Hospital Mental Health Services, Leeds Western
- St. James's University Hospital, Leeds Eastern
- Seacroft and Killingbeck Hospitals, Leeds Eastern
- Wakefield District—Mental Health Unit
Trent Regional Health Authority
- Bassetlaw Hospital and associated community services
- Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Maxborough Montagu Hospital
- Nether Edge Hospital, Sheffield
- Northern General Hospital, Sheffield
- University Hospital, Nottingham
- Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield
East Anglian Regional Health Authority
- East Suffolk Psychiatric Services
- Newmarket General Hospital
- Peterborough DGH, Edith Cavell DGH, Stamford and Rutland Hospital
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kings Lynn and associated services
North West Thames Regional Health Authority
- Central Middlesex Hospital
- East Hertfordshire Acute Services Unit
- North Hertfordshire Hospital and Community Services
- North West Hertfordshire Priority Services Unit
- Northwich Park Hospital
- Mount Vernon/Hillingdon Hospitals with associated Community Services
- Westminster and Westminster Children's Hospitals
North East Thames Regional Health Authority
- Basildon and Thurrock HA
- Central North London Mental Health Unit
- London Hospital
- Mid Essex Acute Unit
- Royal Free Hospital + North Middlesex Hospital
- St. Bartholomews, Homerton and St. Marks Hospital Trust
- St. Bartholomew's Hospital
- St. Margaret's Hospital, Epping
- Southend Acute Unit
- North East Essex Acute Unit
- North East Essex Mental Handicap Unit
- North East Essex Mental Health Unit
- Waltham Forest Mental Health Unit
South West Thames Regional Health Authority
- Croydon HA—Mental Handicap Unit
- Croydon HA—Mental Illness Unit
- East Surrey HA—Acute and Community Services Unit
- Kingston and Esher HA—Kingston Hospital
- Mid Downs HA—East Unit
- Mid Downs HA—West Unit
- Mid Surrey HA—General (Acute) Unit
- Mid Surrey HA—Mental Illness Unit
- North West Surrey HA—Acute Unit
- North West Surrey HA—Mental Handicap and Mental Health Units
- St. George's Group Trust, Wandsworth HA
- St. Helier and Sutton Hospitals, Merton and Sutton HA
- South West Surrey HA—Acute Unit
- Worthing and Southlands Hospitals, Worthing HA
South East Thames Regional Health Authority
- Brighton HA—main acute hospitals
- Bromley HA
- Camberwell HA (excluding mental illness services)
- Eastbourne Hospitals—Eastbourne HA
- Guy's Hospital
- Lewisham Hospital Unit
- Maidstone DGH
- Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup + Erith and District Hospital + Community
- Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead
- St. Thomas' Hospital
431 - Tunbridge Wells Mental Handicap Unit
- West Lambeth HA—Priority Care Unit
- William Harvey and Buckland Hospitals—South East Kent HA
Wessex Regional Health Authority
- Bournemouth Acute Unit, East Dorset HA
- Christchurch Hospital, East Dorset HA
- Psychiatric Division, Basingstoke HA
- Swindon HA—All District Services
- West Dorset HA—All District Services comprises 1, 2, or 3
- trusts
South Western Regional Health Authority
- Bristol Royal Infirmary Acute Services
- Cheltenham and District
- East Cornwall Acute Services
- East Somerset (Yeovil): Acute/Primary Care Services + Yateman Hospital
- North Devon DHA
- Plymouth DHA
- Torbay DHA
- West Somerset (Musgrove): Acute Services
- Wonford Acute Services, Exeter
West Midlands Regional Health Authority
- Alexandra DGH/Acute Services Unit (Bromsgrove and Redditch)
- Good Hope DGH/Northcroft/Jaffray/Community (N. Birmingham)
- Highcroft, Mental Illness Hospital (N. Birmingham)
- Manor DGH/Acute Services Unit (Walsall)
- Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (Shropshire)
- Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (Shropshire)
- Rugby District
- St. George's Hospital/Mental Health Unit (Mid Staffordshire)
- St. Margaret's, Mental Handicap Hospital, (Walsall)
- Walsgrave DGH, Coventry
Mersey Regional Health Authority
- Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge Hospitals
- Broadgreen Hospital, exc. Mersey Regional Cardio-Thoracic Unit
- Cranage Hall, Crewe
- Leighton Hospital, Crewe (Acute Services)
- Liverpool Mental Health Services
- Macclesfield DGH (Acute Services)
- Macclesfield Mental Health Services
- Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital (Alder Hey)
- Royal Liverpool Hospital
- Southport DGH (Acute Services)
- Southport and Formby Psychiatric/Community Services
- Walton and Fazakerley Hospitals, South Sefton
- Warrington DGH
- Whiston and St. Helen's Hospital
North Western Regional Health Authority
- Christie Hospital, South Manchester HA
- Manchester Royal Infirmary + St. Mary's Hospital + Royal Eye Hospital
- Royal Preston Hospital, Preston HA
- Stepping Hill Hospital + Stockport Infirmary, Stockport HA
- Wrightington Hospital, West Lancashire HA
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide references for the passages in the White Paper, "Working for Patients" and associated documents, in which the implications of and safeguards required for primary care or ambulance services if they become self-governing are discussed.
§ Mr. Mellor[holding answer 12 June 1989]: The White Paper discusses self-governing trusts in terms of hospitals or other units providing care or services for patients. But self-governing status could be practical for a wide range of 432W NHS services, and we are considering the implications for particular services in the light of any expressions of interest received.
§ Mr. Kirk woodTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) under what conditions he will approve applications from ambulance services to become self-governing; and if he will make a statement;
(2) under what conditions he will approve applications from primary care services to become self-governing; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Mellor[holding answer 12 June 1989]: We would propose to consider each application on its merits, provided it meets the general criteria outlined in the White Paper.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is his timetable for approving or disapproving applications for medical units to become self-governing;
(2) whether units other than 250 bed hospitals will have their applications to become self-governing approved in time to begin in April 1991.
§ Mr. Mellor[holding answer 12 June 1989]: We would aim to establish the first NHS hospital trust as soon as possible after the necessary legislation receives Royal Assent, so that they can complete their preparations before April 1991, the earliest sensible time to establish the first self-governing hospitals. We would be prepared to consider a wide variety of units among the first self-governing units.