§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the main Defence Secondary Care Agency hospital sites with the number of clinical, professional and other whole time equivalent staff at each site, indicating in each case what decisions over the future of the site(a) have been taken and (b) are still under review; and if he will make a statement. [66468]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonThe details requested are as follows:
Royal Hospital Haslar Service Clinical 424 Professional medical 68 Others 43 Civilian Clinical 89 Professional medical 75 Others 367 As part of his recent announcement of a strategy for the future of the Defence Medical Services, the Secretary of State for Defence has declared that this hospital will ultimately close. This is unlikely to be before 2002 and arrangements are in place. These figures update those provided to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 12 January 1999, Official Report, column 146.
Duchess of Kents Hospital, Catterick Service Clinical 110 Professional medical 13 Others 39 Civilian Clinical 55 Professional medical 13 Others 87 These Details include personnel in the Defence Psychiatric Service units.
A review by the DSCA of facilities provided by this hospital resulted in a decision to close acute in-patient services. Following a tendering exercise, a contract has been awarded to the Northallerton NHS Trust for the establishment of a Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit (MDHU) at the Trust's Friarage Hospital. It is planned to commence the major transfer of work by 1 July 1999.
The Strategic Defence Review included provision for the enhancement of the Community Psychiatric Services. As a result, the DSCA are now in the early stages of a comprehensive review. An announcement will be made in due course. 728W
Defence Services Medical Rehabilitation Centre Service Clinical 22 Professional medical 8 Others 82 Civilian Clinical 11 Professional medical 3 Others 44 Within the new DMS strategy, the DSMRC has a strong future and the DSCA will continue examining new areas in which to maximize use of the excellent facilities at the unit.
Royal Naval Hospital, Gibraltar Service Clinical 20 Professional medical 5 Others 10 Civilian Clinical 2 Professional medical 6 Others 28 We have withdrawn from full collaborative arrangements with the Government of Gibraltar for the provision of secondary health care. Regrettably, it was not possible to agree mutually satisfactory arrangements. As a result, the RNH in Gibraltar has reopened. Plans are progressing to develop a combined facility that will provide primary care, dental care and essential secondary care to replace the RNH early in the millennium.
Princess Marys Hospital, Akrotiri Service Clinical 44 Professional medical 9 Others 27 Civilian Clinical 6 Professional medical 22 Others 16 There are, at present, no re-examine the role this hospitl. Its continuing presence forms an inregral part of the new DMS strategy.
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MDHU Frimely Park MDHU Peterborough MDHU Derriford Service Clinical 129 79 99 Professional medical 8 7 3 Others 22 9 11 Civilian Clinical 3 0 1 Professional medical 0 0 1 Others 5 9 7 The MDHUs are working well, providing an excellent clinical environment and representing good value for money. To emphasise our commitment to this concept, the DSCA are setting new contracts in place with the NHS Trusts.