§ 9. Mr. P. Bartleyasked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the shortage of hospital accommodation for chronic cases in Durham and Chester-le-Street areas; and what action he proposes to take to provide sufficient hospital accommodation for such cases.
§ Mr. MarquandYes, Sir; but it is hoped to provide an additional 49 beds within a few months at two hospitals in these areas. Improved out-patient treatment will also help to promote recovery.
§ 19. Mr. George Thomasasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the urgent need in Cardiff for hospital accommodation for old people who have no relatives to care for them; and whether be will make a statement.
§ Mr. MarquandI am not aware of special difficulties in Cardiff. If my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind, I shall be glad to make inquiries.
22. Mr. E. Martin Smithasked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the 1052 acute shortage of hospital beds in the Grantham, Sleaford and Lincoln areas; and what steps he proposes taking in the matter.
§ Mr. MarquandYes, Sir. The position will be relieved as St. George's Hospital, Lincoln, is brought into fuller use. Part of that hospital was reopened last year and the board propose to bring further sections of the hospital into operation as soon as circumstances permit.
Mr. SmithWill the right hon. Gentleman get on with this matter fairly quickly, as it was brought to the attention of his predecessor some time ago? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that people who were injured nearly a year ago are still waiting to get into hospital?
§ Mr. MarquandYes, Sir, but good progress has been made, and this hospital will provide 356 additional beds very shortly.
§ Mr. HarrisonWill my right hon. Friend state the extent to which the hospital service generally has expanded compared with the years before the war, and in making that statement demonstrate to the Opposition that considerable progress has been made?
§ Mr. MarquandAll the Questions which have been asked relating to long waiting lists reveal the inadequacy of the system which we took over.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ElliotWill the Minister agree that we are 50,000 beds short of the figure which was provided during the war by myself and my colleagues?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe Question relates to Lincoln and not to the country as a whole.
§ 30 and 31. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Health (1) what immediate steps he proposes to take to increase the number of hospital beds available at the Cardiff Royal Infirmary and the Llandough Hospital;
(2) whether, in view of the fact that there are 5,781 people waiting for 735 beds in the Cardiff Royal Infirmary and the Llandough Penarth Hospital, he can give an assurance that the extension of Llandough Hospital will not prejudice the building of the proposed new teaching hospital in Cardiff.
§ Mr. MarquandWork is in progress on a new maternity unit of 87 beds at the Royal Infirmary but no extension is at present contemplated at Llandough. This will not prejudice the proposals for a new teaching hospital.
§ Mr. ThomasSince the extension of Llandough is possibly less expensive than other proposals, would it interfere with the proposed new teaching hospital?
§ Mr. MarquandNo, Sir.