§ Ms SquireTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the cost of maintaining long-stay hospital facilities at Lynebank for 40 elderly patients and 40 patients with forensic and dual diagnosis for severe learning and physical disabilities. [29152]
§ Mr. Galbraith[holding answer 23 February 1998]: Fife Health Board and Fife Healthcare NHS Trust are undertaking further work to identify the preferred option for the future provision of NHS continuing care services currently provided at Lynebank Hospital for learning disabled and elderly patients.
74WThe Trust has estimated the theoretical cost of providing for 40 frail elderly patients and approximately 48 learning disability patients on the Lynebank site as below:
£ million Two frail elderly wards (40 places) 1.0 Four learning disabilities wards (approximately 48 places) plus Community Learning Disability Team 3.7 Total 4.7 While the Trust has identified clinical costs, facilities costs have been pro-rated and may not be operationally achievable. The estimates also exclude central services costs, interest and depreciation. The figure of £3.7 million for learning disabilities is based on the cost of operating 4 wards (48 places). The provision of 40 learning disability places rather than 48 is unlikely to make a material difference to the estimate.