§ 50. Mr. G. Strauss (for Mr. Sorensen)asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider removing certain hospitals and patients in London and other dangerous areas to places of relative safety?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Miss Horsbrugh)Arrangements have been in operation 930 since the beginning of the war by which a large part of the ordinary work of the London hospitals has been carried on in the outer hospitals, and at the present time the great majority of the acute sick are being treated in outer hospitals. Some hospital beds must be maintained in London in order to deal with casualties and urgent sickness or accidents. My right hon. Friend does not at present consider it necessary that comparable arrangements should he made for any other area, although he is watching the position. It must be remembered that the hospital accommodation outside the main towns is limited, and the beds must be kept clear in the outer hospitals for casualties and Service sick.
§ Mr. StraussIs the hon. Lady aware that there are still hundreds of old and infirm in London hospitals who obviously ought to be outside the area, and that these people are taking up beds required for casualties?
§ Miss HorsbrughI think that the hon. Gentleman would agree there are at present sufficient beds for casualties. If he will look at the last sentence of my reply, he will see that one of the difficulties is maintaining sufficient hospital beds outside for casualties and Service sick. Day by day we are moving more people out of London whenever it is possible.
§ Mr. StraussDoes the hon. Lady agree that the old and infirm should not occupy hospital beds in London but should be outside London?