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Dept of Health

Answer

Mr. Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his plans are for the future of Harefield Hospital; and if he will make a statement. [121708] Mr. Denham: Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster Health Authority has undertaken formal public consultation over proposals to move inpatient paediatric services from Harefield Hospital to the Royal Brompton Hospital. A decision to pursue these proposals has been contested by Hillingdon Community Health Council and it will, therefore, be referred to Ministers for a final decision. Any decision on the future location of Harefield Hospital's paediatric transplantation services would require the consideration of the National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group. These proposals must be set in the context of longer term plans. Following detailed planning and assessment by National Health Service organisations in West London and the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, a preferred option has been identified for the future of specialist inpatient services in West London, including cardiothoracic services. This would see services that are currently provided at Harefield Hospital located in a new building on the Paddington Basin site, alongside other West London specialist cardiothoracic services currently provided at the Royal Brompton and St Mary's Hospitals. An Outline Business Case is due to be submitted to the London Regional Office of the NHS Executive assessing a number of options, including that for the Paddington Basin. Full public consultation will be held in the summer of 2000 before any decisions are made.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

121708; 350 c126-7W;350 c128-9W

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Closures Heart diseases Transplant surgery Paediatrics Harefield Hospital

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk