§ 58. Captain Ellistonasked the Minister of Health whether he is in a position to make any further statement about the survey of hospitals in London and the surrounding area proposed in connection with the Government's post-war hospital policy?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Miss Horsbrugh)Yes, Sir. The following terms of reference have been laid down for the guidance of those undertaking the inquiry:
To survey the hospitals (other than Mental Hospitals and Mental Deficiency Institutions) in London and the surrounding area, and having regard to the information thus obtained and to the general principles of postwar hospital policy laid down by the Minister of Health in the House of Commons on the 9th October to advise the Minister what area would appropriately be served by a hospital system centred on London, and what modifications or extensions of the existing hospital facilities would be necessary or desirable to give effect to that policy.My right hon. Friend has invited Dr. A. M. H. Gray, president of the Royal Society of Medicine, and Dr. A. Topping, Deputy Medical Officer of Health and School Medical Officer for the county of London, to act as surveying officers; and I am glad to say that both these gentlemen have found it possible to accept the invitation, the services of Dr. Topping being made available through the kind offices of the London County Council. A beginning has already been made with the preliminary work of the survey.
Viscountess AstorWould not it be just as well to have a woman also consulted, seeing the complete mess the men have made of the Ministry of Health for the last 10 years?