Mike Hall MP

 North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Mr. Mike Hall (Weaver Vale) (Lab): North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust, in my constituency, is considering reconfiguring services between Halton and Warrington, and the Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust is looking at reconfiguring services between the Victoria infirmary, in Northwich, and Leighton. Much of what is proposed is very welcome, but the real concern locally—in both towns—is that Halton could lose in-patient activity to Warrington, and that the Victoria infirmary could lose it to Leighton. The reason for the proposal affecting Leighton is that the Victoria infirmary needs capital investment of some £2 million to bring its services up to standard. Will this fund help in that regard?

Ms Hewitt: As I have said, the fund is for community hospital provision—and I think that my hon. Friend is referring to the need for upgrading in an acute hospital facility. [Interruption.] Where the aim is to upgrade facilities in an existing hospital to provide better community health services and to meet the strategy set out in the White Paper, the fund will be available. The details—the criteria that we will use—are all set out in the guidance to which I referred.