HC Deb 18 April 1995 vol 258 cc119-20W
Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 4 April,Official Report, columns 1043–45, relating to changes to London hospitals, when she received the final documents from the four comprehensive consultation exercises carried out by the district health authorities. [19723]

Mr. Malone

The conclusions of the consideration by South Thames regional health authority were received on 16 March 1995 and the conclusions of the consideration by North Thames regional health authority were received on 23 March 1995.

Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what weight was put on the opinion of local people in making the decision about changes to London hospitals. [19717]

Mr. Malone

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State took full account of all comments made during the consultation processes in reaching her decision.

Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which London hospitals closed in the last five years; and which are due to close in the next 10 years. [18716]

Mr. Malone

The Department does not routinely collect information on hospital closures or proposals for closure. Information has been held centrally, since 1992, on cases where proposals to change the use of health service facilities are referred to Ministers for decision following objections from a community health council. A list of such closures and changes of use for the period January 1992 to March 1995 will be placed in the Library.

Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates she has made of the changes to the London hospitals being a consequence of the internal market. [19710]

Mr. Malone

The changes being made to health services in London address many of the issues identified in the Tomlinson report on London's health services, medical education and research, and take forward the Government's strategy set out in "Making London Better". They are intended to improve health care in London by concentrating specialist services in fewer, better, centres of excellence, providing modern acute hospitals closer to major centres of population and releasing resources for investment in primary and community health services, while preserving and enhancing London's reputation for treatment, teaching and research.

Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will break down by hospital the £400 million capital investment announced for London hospitals; and from which budget it will come. [19713]

Mr. Malone

Latest estimates of planned gross capital investment are as follows:

£ million
Royal Hospitals NHS Trust 239
Guy's/St. Thomas' NHS Trust 90
Greenwich Healthcare NHS Trust 35
Wellhouse NHS Trust 68
Total 432

These estimates may be subject to revision as more detailed plans are prepared. Exchequer capital funding for "Making London Better" projects is available from the national health service capital allocation. Funding arrangements for individual projects, including the exploration of private finance, will be considered as part of detailed implementation of proposals.