To ask the Secretary of State for Health how often (a) she and (b) other Ministers from her Department have met chief executives of strategic health authorities in the last 12 months; and on how many of those occasions the re-configuration of hospitals was discussed. (124208)

All departmental Ministers are in regular contact with the chief executives of strategic health authorities (SHAs), according to their regional responsibilities, to discuss a range of issues including local plans for service reconfigurations. The Secretary of State also attends a regular monthly meeting with the chairs and chief executives of SHAs.