West Midlands Regional Health Authority (Hansard, 3 November 1992)

§ Mr. Burden
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions she has had with Sir Roy Griffiths on the subject of the National Audit Office report HC 197-IX; and if she will make a statement;
(2) pursuant to her answer of 22 October, Official Report, column 369, to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett), what will be the form of Sir Roy Griffiths' investigations into West Midlands regional health authority; and if she will make his findings public;
(3) what discussions she has had on the future of the chair and other senior offices of West Midlands regional health authority with Sir Roy Griffiths.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) on 22 October 1992 at column369. Sir Roy Griffiths has been asked to work with West Midlands regional health authority in looking at its management systems in order to allow the authority to discharge its role more effectively in the future. The emphasis of this work is on the procedures adopted by the authority which gave rise to the problems identified by the National Audit Office rather than a specific examination of the competence of individuals. Sir Roy will be keeping the Department in touch with progress and there are no plans for a formal report to be published at the conclusion of his work.

§ Mr. Burden
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what will be the effect of West Midlands regional health authority's moratorium on capital spending on the time scale for(a) completion of the "Building a Healthy Birmingham" plan generally (b) the rebuilding of the Birmingham women's hospital, (c) the rebuilding of the Birmingham children's hospital and (d) the rebuilding of the elderly service block at Selly Oak hospital.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
A temporary moratorium on capital spending has been imposed by West Midlands regional health authority to enable them to take stock of their capital programme. I understand the region will be discussing the position at the regional health authority meeting on 19 November.

§ Mr. Burden
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what investigations she has made into the collapse of QA Business Services, the former management services division of West Midlands regional health authority;
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(2) what investigations she has made into the Healthtrac supplies system in West Midlands regional health authority; and if she will make a statement.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
Both Healthtrac and QA Business Services are currently the subject of a review by the Audit Commission. We shall consider the conclusions most carefully as soon as they are available.

§ Mr. Burden
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with Sir James Ackers or other representatives of West Midlands regional health authority on the subject of National Audit Office report HC 197-IX; and what were the results of these discussions.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
Discussions about the National Audit report are continuing between the Department and the West Midlands regional health authority.

§ Mr. Burden
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to intervene in the proposed closure of Birmingham's royal orthopaedic and accident hospitals, or the transfer of services from the general hospital, following the publication of National Audit Office report HC 197-IX.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
None. Responsibility for the public consultation on the proposed closures of the royal orthopaedic and accident hospitals and transfer of services to the general hospital rests with South Birmingham district health authority. They are due to discuss the proposal at their district health authority meeting on 4 November when I would hope that general agreement can be reached.

§ Mr. Burden
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions took place at her meeting with Sir James Ackers of 28 October on his future as chair of West Midlands regional health authority; and what other matters were discussed.

§ Dr. Mawhinney
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health did not meet Sir James Ackers on 28 October.