§ Mr. Raymond S. RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to complete his consideration of the remaining third wave NHS trust applications; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StewartFollowing the announcement by my noble and learned Friend, the Minister of State, on 15 October nine applications for trust status have been under consideration. These involve the Glasgow Royal infirmary, Western infirmary and Gartnavel hospitals, Stobhill, Inverclyde Royal, Renfrewshire Healthcare, Queen Margaret hospital Dunfermline, Kirkcaldly Acute hospitals, Angus unit and the Highland Communities unit.
My right hon. Friend has considered the applications very carefully, taking into account the comments made during the public consultations. He has concluded that they meet the published criteria and should be approved. Orders establishing the trusts are being signed today and the new trusts will become operational on 1 April 1994. This will bring the total number of trusts in Scotland at that date to 39.
Operating within the national health service, the trusts, between them, will be responsible for approximately 90 per cent. of hospital and community health services in Scotland. As the longer established trusts have already demonstrated, they will be able to develop services of a more local character and better adapted to meet patient needs. This augurs well for the health service in Scotland.
685WThe latest batch of trust approvals also means that four health boards will join Grampian and Ayrshire and Arran in no longer having day-to-day operational responsibilities for hospitals in their areas. This will allow these boards to concentrate on their crucial role of determining the health needs of those in their area, securing services to meet those needs, and monitoring the services provided.