§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many National Health Service trusts she expects to be operational on 1 April.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyI have today approved a further eight applications from units wishing to become national health service trusts in the fourth wave. That will bring the total for the fourth wave to 143. There will now be 419 fully operational NHS trusts from 1 April 1994.
The eight new trusts are: Hammersmith hospitals—incorporating Charing Cross hospital, Hammersmith hospital, Queen Charlotte's hospital and Acton hospital—Chelsea and Westminter Healthcare; Mount Vernon and Watford hospitals; West Hertfordshire Community Health; Harrow and Hillingdon Healthcare; University College London hospitals; Royal Victoria infirmary and associated hospitals; and Newcastle City Health. I have not approved the application from Surrey Heartlands.