§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the impact the proposed overnight closure of Edgware UTC will have on(a) public confidence and support for the NHS in Hendon and (b) the willingness of the public to participate in NHS consultations and as lay representatives on consultative bodies; and if he will make a statement; [46879]
(2) what assessment he has made of the outcome of the public consultation exercise over the proposed night-time closure of Edgware Hospital UTC, indicating (a) the number of responses, (b) those supporting the closure and (c) those opposing the closure; and if he will make a statement. [45824]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answers 25 March and 10 April 2002]: In the light of the representations received, I have asked that the decision to close the overnight service at Edgware UTC be reviewed by the newly formed North Central London Strategic Health Authority.
The review will be conducted in discussion with local stakeholders about how the best interests of patients and the NHS locally can be met.
Pending the outcome of this review and Ministers' decisions, the UTC night time service will be maintained.
§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the number of people attending the Edgware Hospital UTC and walk-in centre(a) in total and (b) between 10 pm and 7 am who are not registered with a GP; and if he will make a statement. [45825]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 25 March 2002]: We do not collect information on patients not registered with general practitioners. The national health service walk-in centres are not open between 10 pm and 7 am. On average, around 10 patients a night attend the urgent treatment centre after 10 pm.