§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the projected expenditure in mid-Bedfordshire for 1998–99 on care for the elderly in Biggleswade and Steppingley hospitals; and what is the projected cost per head. [80478]
§ Mr. DenhamThe information requested is not available centrally.
§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the retention and expansion of existing services and the development of new services, by the three relevant primary care groups, in relation to Biggleswade and Steppingley hospitals; [80457]
(2) if he will provide a breakdown of costs in relation to the services currently provided at Biggleswade and Steppingley Hospitals; [80490]
(3) what assessment he has made of the financial impact on (a) Bedford Hospital and (b) other local acute hospitals of the (i) maintenance and (ii) development of services at Biggleswade and Steppingley Hospitals; [80447]
(4) what assessment he has made of the consultation process on the review of Biggleswade and Steppingley Hospitals; [80446]
(5) if he will assess the views of (a) general practitioners, (b) consultants and (c) other healthcare professionals towards the retention and development of continuing care facilities at Biggleswade and Steppingley hospitals; [80475]
(6) if he will conduct (a) an audit of current provision of care and (b) a health needs assessment in relation to the review of Biggleswade and Steppingley Hospitals;[80491]
(7) what estimate he has made of the projected income which would result from the sale of the Biggleswade and Steppingley Hospital sites; [80489]
(8) if he will make a statement on progress in the review of acute care in Bedfordshire and the extent to which it informs the review of intermediate care; [80474]
(9) what assessment he has made of the Option 9 proposals for Biggleswade and Steppingley hospitals in relation to the Government's (a) medium and (b) longterm plans for developing the NHS; [80480]
(10) what assessment he has made of the basis for Bedford Hospital NHS Trust's support for the withdrawal of services from Biggleswade and Steppingley Hospitals; [80483]
(11) what assessment he has made of the prospects for using the Biggleswade and Steppingley hospital sites as part of the healthy living centre programme. [80461]
529W
§ Mr. DenhamIt is the responsibility of health authorities and primary care groups to assess the health care needs of their population, to draw up strategies and commissioning plans and to secure a range of hospital and community health services to meet those needs.
I understand that the health authority has conducted a consultation exercise into the development of intermediate care services. However, I understand that no proposals for change have yet been made. If proposals for significant change are made, and if the Community Health Council contests the health authority's proposals, following consultation, the matter would be referred to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for a decision. We would consider all the views expressed during the consultation prior to making any decision.
§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons Bedfordshire Health Authority has employed a consultant in connection with the review of Biggleswade and Steppingley hospitals. [80459]
§ Mr. DenhamIt is a matter for Bedfordshire Health Authority to decide whether or not it requires the use of consultancy services. I understand that consultancy services were used to carry out the third phase of the review process.