Westcliffe Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent

HC Deb 16 January 1996 vol 269 c554W

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to approve the bid for PFI funding for the replacement long-stay beds at Westcliffe hospital, Stoke-on-Trent; and if he will make a statement. [9206]

Mr. Horam

The national health service executive expects to receive a full business case from North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS trust to replace the majority of the beds early in 1997. Approval to funding a capital investment using private finance would be conditional upon such an approach increasing cost-effectiveness and reducing risks for the NHS. The balance of the service will be the responsibility of the health authority, which will be seeking to place patients with local nursing homes.