HC Deb 08 February 1995 vol 254 cc277-8W
Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 31 January,Official Report, column 876, how many cardiac centres and cancer services there are in London; what is her estimate of the number needed; and if she will explain her reference to a great duplication and concentration of specialty services in London.

Mr. Malone

The Tomlinson report foundunwarranted duplication of specialist services, sometimes at great expense", referring inter alia to 14 cardiac centres and 13 cancer centres providing regional specialty services in inner London. The reports in June 1993 to the London implementation group of an independent review of specialist services in London confirmed Tomlinson's findings and said, of cardiac services, that there is a clear case for rationalisation to create fewer, larger and stronger centres and, of cancer services,

there are several serious disadvantages in the current pattern of small centres".

Both reports recommended some consolidation in order that high-quality clinical care, teaching and research should be sustained. The advice of these and the other specialty reviews remains available to inform health authorities and NHS hospital trusts.