Edgware General Hospital (Hansard, 24 July 1996)

§ Sir John Gorst
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further developments have taken place to enable a casualty and emergency unit to replace the existing accident and emergency department at Edgware hospital; when he expects further arrangements to be proposed; and when he will write to the hon. Member for Hendon, North with full details. [38983]

§ Mr. Dykes
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further developments have taken place to enable a casualty and emergency unit to replace the existing accident and emergency arrangements at Edgware general hospital; when he expects further new arrangements to be proposed; and when he will write to the hon. Member for Harrow, East with full details. [38986]

§ Sir Rhodes Boyson
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further developments have taken place to enable the casualty and emergency unit to replace the530W existing accident and emergency arrangements at Edgware general hospital; when he expects the new arrangements to be proposed; and when he will write to the hon. Member for Brent, North. [39602]

§ Mr. John Marshall
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the future of Edgware hospital. [39601]

§ Ms Harman
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of Edgware general hospital and its casualty department. [39827]

§ Mr. Dorrell
Barnet health authority has today sent papers to members in advance of its next meeting on 31 July. The health authority will consider the following recommendations from its officers(a) that, in line with the recommendation of the working group which reported to the health authority earlier this month, there should be a medical presence within the casualty service; (b) that a further working group should be established to explore the development of a GP type admissions unit or the elderly as a demonstration project for which central funding could be sought; (c) that the opening hours of the casualty service should be considered further in conjunction with the proposal for a demonstration project.
In addition, the health authority will discuss progress on the possible development of a low-risk maternity unit, on which decisions will be made in September.
The health authority will take a decision on these recommendations at its meeting next week. I will write to the local Members immediately after the meeting with further details.