§ 17. Dr. Segalasked the Minister of Health whether he will give an assurance to existing E.M.S. hospitals, that they wilt continue to be retained until such time as a coordinated hospital policy can be carried out.
§ Mr. BevanAs the commitments of the Emergency Hospital Scheme contract, the scheme itself must contract; and I cannot therefore give my hon. Friend this assurance. I can, however, assure him that no emergency hospitals are given up without first considering the probable future needs of the hospitals services.
§ Dr. SegalIs the Minister aware that many of these hospitals are losing their emergency nursing staffs, such as married nurses and V.A.Ds., because of their uncertainty as to what is the future policy, and that enormous sums of public money have been spent on converting and equipping these hospitals? In view of the desperate need of hospital accommodation, why cannot the Minister give the hospitals a temporary assurance that they will be retained?
§ Mr. BevanI am surprised to learn that there is any misunderstanding about future hospital policy. I thought it was perfectly clear. It may not be universally approved, but it is certainly clear. With regard to emergency hospitals, I have no Parliamentary authority to provide hospitals, except for patients intended to be treated by the emergency hospital service. That is my difficulty and, until we get the new powers, the Ministry of Health cannot own hospitals.
§ Dr. SegalMay I press upon the Minister the necessity of realising that the needs of the sick population of this country should be paramount, and that there should be no question of closing hospital beds until alternative accommodation is provided?
§ Mr. BevanI am afraid no Minister of the Crown can act except within the authority agreed by Parliament, and I cannot make available to people hospital facilities which Parliament has not agreed.