§ Mr. SimsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what account she is taking in her consideration of the Tomlinson report of the document issued by the North East Thames regional health authority entitled, "A Consultation Document on the Dissolution of the Bart's NHS Trust" published on 22 November; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe consultation document proposing dissolution of the St. Bartholomew's shadow trust was issued by North East Thames regional health authority with Ministers' agreement on the ground that it would be inappropriate for the trust to become operational on 1 April 1993 in the form originally proposed in direct conflict with the recommendations of the Tomlinson report. Moreover, there would have been serious doubts about St. Bartholomew's hospital's fitness for trust status on financial grounds. The consultation document relates solely to the proposed management arrangements for the hospital next year. Full account will be taken of the views expressed in response to it before a decision is reached.