NHS Reorganisation

The Minister has been very generous in giving way. She may remember that Bournemouth used to be part of Wessex regional health authority, which was abolished by the last Conservative Government and was not long lamented, but it had one convincing aspect—it took in not only Bournemouth and Poole hospitals, but the Southampton teaching hospitals and Odstock hospital in Salisbury, Wiltshire, all of which co-operated to form one unit. The proposal that is before us now is for either a strategic health authority for the whole of the south-west region, or two authorities for the south-west region divided horizontally. Can she explain why we are not being permitted the possibility of crossing the regional boundary? Is it to do with regional policy, rather than efficient administration?