Oral Answers to Questions

Julian Lewis Excerpts

Tuesday 18th October 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Lansley]

The hon. Lady will know, I hope, that the deputy chief executive wrote to primary care trusts a few weeks ago further to remind them of the need to respond to NICE clinical guidelines. It was the hon. Lady’s Secretary of State, John Reid who, when NICE published its guidelines, told PCTs in 2004 that they should not follow them.

[Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con)]

The news that the Woodhaven hospital in my constituency is threatened with closure only eight years after it was opened as a state-of-the-art mental health facility is causing great concern. Will my right hon. Friend endeavour to look into what is proposed for the closure of acute in-patient beds because the “hospital at home” alternative is simply not good enough?

[Paul Burstow]

I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman’s question and I would certainly be happy to look further into the matter and write to him accordingly.