§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the district health authorities in England which have expressed an interest in opting out to become a national health service trust on an all-authority basis and indicate which of these he is allowing to proceed into the process of public consultation.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has agreed that 123 hospitals and other units can proceed to work up applications to become trusts on 1 April 1992. These expressions of interest will only proceed to public consultation if a formal application for trust status is submitted. Of these expressions of interest, 12 provide all the services currently managed within their respective health authorities. They are;
- Darlington health services.
- North Tees acute and community services.
- North West Durham hospital and community services.
- Airedale Health Services.
- Harrogate Health Services.
- Northallerton Health Services.
- Scarborough Health Services.
- East Hertfordshire Acute, Priority and Community Services.
- Hastings Provider Services.
- Wycombe Health Services.
- Oldham Acute and Community Services.
- Rochdale Acute and Community Services.