§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will take steps to ensure that district health authorities using the basic medicine and neuro-surgery facilities at Southampton general hospital have sufficient funds to ensure that increases in workload may be fully funded;
(2) if she will take all steps necessary to ensure that no patients will suffer reduced access to treatment or examination at the Southampton general hospital as a result of the hospital management's need to overcome a £ 350,000 overspend in the first two months of the current financial year.
§ Mr. SackvilleThis is a matter for the Wessex regional health authority. The hon. Member may wish to write to Sir Robin Buchanan, the chairman of the Wessex regional authority, for details.
§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had on the causes of the £ 355,000 overspend by Southampton general hospital in the first two months of the current financial year.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe Department is in regular contact with Wessex regional health authority, which is keeping the situation under close review.