HL Deb 24 November 1994 vol 559 cc19-20WA
Lord Walton of Detchant

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether in respect of the current proposals for rationalising services at St. Thomas' and Guy's Hospitals, they prefer

(a) Option A in the independent report produced by KPMG, or

(b) the proposal prepared by the Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital Trust, and what are the reasons for their preference; and

Whether they will incorporate the KPMG report on the future of Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospitals in the consultation document now being prepared by the South East London Health Commission.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege)

We are aware of the report produced for the Save Guy's Campaign by KPMG Peat Marwick. The Save Guy's Campaign has yet to indicate its preferred option for the future disposition of services at the Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital Trust, or whether it will encompass either of the options described in the KPMG Peat Marwick report. Proposals put forward by the Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital Trust are now the subject of a public consultation exercise which is being conducted by the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Health Commission. The outcome of public consultation may be referred to Ministers for decision; it would be premature for the Government to draw any conclusions at this stage. We understand that Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Health Commission is assisting the Save Guy's Campaign in its efforts to ensure that those who received a copy of the consultation document will also be informed about the Save Guy's Campaign preferred option when it becomes available.