HC Deb 19 December 1991 vol 201 cc253-4W
Mr. Robert Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current position with the building and equipping programme of St. Stephen's hospital, London, and the expected changes in the scale of operation of other London hospitals whose patients will be treated at the new hospital.

Mr. Dorrell

The construction of the new Westminster and Chelsea hospital on the site of the former St. Stephen's hospital is proceeding on schedule. The building should be completed in November 1992 and be fully operational by April 1993. It will replace facilities currently provided by the Westminster hospital and the Westminster children's hospital. Sir Bernard Tomlinson is currently heading a study group, commissioned by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, which is looking into the future provision of health care across London.

1991–92. This year gross expenditure on the NHS is expected to be £26.6 billion, a real-terms increase over the period of over 50 per cent.