HC Deb 14 October 1991 vol 196 cc83-4W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are for the future use of the Royal Northern hospital and the Highgate wing of the Whittington hospital of Islington and Bloomsbury health authority.

Mr. Dorrell

I understand that all in-patient services have been transferred from the Royal Northern hospital to the Whittington hospital. Over the next two to three years, following further development at the Whittington hospital, day surgery, out-patient and diagnostic services will also be relocated to the Whittington. Community based services such as genito-urinary medicine and alcohol abuse clinics are intended to remain on the Royal Northern site. The district and regional health authority intend to dispose of surplus land at the Royal Northern as it is vacated.

Ambulance service—Survey 1988–89 Table 1—Ambulance service vehicles
Ambulances
Two-trolley emergency A Two-trolley dual purpose B Sitting case seats only (under 14) Sitting case seals stretcher capacity Sitting case seats plus lift mechanism Car (with or without stretcher capacity) Bus—14 or more seats with or without stretcher or wheelchair capacity Total ambulance service vehicles used to transport patients
Avon 36 24 34 21 1 116
Bedfordshire 36 20 1 8 1 66
Berkshire 32 10 27 69
Buckinghamshire 43 18 13 74
Cambridgeshire 40 6 14 60
Cheshire 52 8 39 13 112
Cleveland 52 29 4 85
Cornwall and Isles of Stilly 66 2 2 70
Cumbria 54 19 2 12 2 89
Derbyshire 22 76 9 18 7 132
Devon 101 5 1 107
Dorset 40 2 10 10 62
Durham 31 11 52 8 5 1 108
Essex 116 6 8 130
Gloucestershire 27 5 2 40 74
Hampshire 100 10 9 119
Hereford and Worcester 59 6 19 3 4 91
Hertfordshire 53 43 9 23 2 130
Humberside 107 24 22 11 164

I understand that the Highgate wing of the Whittington hospital is currently occupied by administrative staff who will be relocated as soon as alternative accommodation has been found. The site will then be sold.