§ Mr. DykesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he plans to respond to the proposals sent to him recently by the hon. Member for Hendon, North (Sir J. Gorst) and the hon. Member for Harrow, East for the future maintenance of emergency treatment facilities at Edgware general hospital. [5609]
§ Sir J. GorstTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about his further proposals for the development of emergency facilities at Edgware general hospital after the closure of the existing accident and emergency department. [6416]
§ Mr. DorrellBarnet health authority decided on 25 September to submit an application for central funding for a demonstrator project at Edgware general hospital with the following key elements
The casualty service at Edgware, originally planned as a nurse-led service open 13 hours a day. should instead open 24 hours and be staffed by doctors:A low-risk maternity unit should be provided to allow mothers to give birth close to home:A GP-type admissions unit should provide in-patient beds to meet the immediate needs of elderly people living locally.These proposals are currently being developed, and my right hon. Friend has indicated to Barnet health authority his willingness to support this project at Edgware to ensure that these ideas are properly evaluated in practice.