HC Deb 24 October 2001 vol 373 cc309-10W
Mr. Wiggin

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress in building Kington Hospital in Herefordshire. [9043]

Mr. Hutton

Herefordshire Primary Care Trust and Herefordshire county council are working in partnership with an independent sector provider, Blanchworth Care, to improve health and social care services in Kington.

Blanchworth Care will build a new health facility in Kington, to which all of the services provided in the existing Kington Hospital will be relocated.

Contract discussions are at a very advanced stage with all parties expecting to be able to conclude an agreement and sign a contract soon. Blanchworth Care has already secured a site for the new facility and will be in a position to commence work as soon as the contract is completed.