§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the closure of a ward at Broomfield hospital; and what action can be taken to reopen the ward.
§ Mr. SackvilleBroomfield hospital is one of six hospitals which comprise the Mid Essex hospital services NHS trust. Through much greater efficiency, the trust exceeded its contract performance by more than 1,000 cases during the first six months of the current year. As a result ward B8, a general surgical ward, has been closed temporarily as it is not needed to maintain contracted levels of patient treatment.