Prime Minister's question asked in the House of Commons, by Baroness Hoey (Labour). It was answered on Wednesday, 31 January 2007 on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Engagements

Question: Is the Prime Minister aware of the anger and disappointment felt in the communities of Lambeth and Southwark over his Secretary of State for Health’s decision to close the 24-hour emergency clinic at the Maudsley hospital? Does he realise that, in the teeth of opposition from two local councils with all-party support, as well as opposition from five local MPs including two Cabinet Ministers and his own Parliamentary Private Secretary, the Secretary of State went ahead and made that decision? Will he have a quiet word with her and ask her why she thinks that she knows more than all those people in the community who know how important that clinic is?

Answer: I am sure that local consultations will have been involved in the putting forward of those proposals. I am perfectly happy to have a look at the matter, but I am sure that my hon. Friend would also want to point out that overall, health care in her area, as in other parts of the country, has improved dramatically thanks to the investment and the change that has been made.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 456 c228
Session: 2006-07
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Related items: Deposited Paper DEP 07/828
Friday, 23 March 2007
Deposited papers
House of Commons
Subjects: Closures Accident and emergency departments Maudsley Hospital
Link: View this Prime Minister's question on www.publications.parliament.uk