§ 23. Sir I. Fraserasked the Minister of Health in how many cases have general practitioner, cottage type, hospitals been converted to specialist hospitals or for other purposes under the National Health Scheme; and if he will give the list of their names.
§ Mr. MarquandAccording to my present information, nine hospitals—a list of which I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT—in which general practitioners formerly provided, for their own patients, treatment not of a specialist nature have been converted into specialist hospitals or for other uses. Specialist staff has also been introduced into a number of small general hospitals where general practitioners formerly provided special forms of treatment, but in many of these and 647 also in some other hospitals some beds have been reserved for patients under the care of general practitioners.
§ Sir I. FraserIn cases where the local people have been deprived by specialisation of their local hospital, what alternative arrangements is the right hon. Gentleman making for them?
§ Mr. MarquandNobody has been deprived of a hospital. What is happening in most of these cases is that the local people are now given the advantage of a specialist service over and above what they had before.
§ Sir I. FraserBut if they do not require that specialist service, but something else, where do they go?
Dr. HillIn what portion of the nine cases mentioned by the right hon. Gentleman has a regional hospital board acted contrary to the advice given by the predecessor of the right hon. Gentleman?
§ Mr. MarquandThe advice which has been given has, I am sure, been carefully considered by all the regional boards when making their plans. They have made them to the best of their ability in the light of local circumstances and on that advice.
§ Mr. HarrisonDoes my right hon. Friend realise how much better off most patients are under the care of a specialist than under the care of a general practitioner?
§ Following is the list:
§ Warde Aldam Cottage Hospital, South Elmsale; Mirfield Memorial Hospital; Alfred Bean Hospital, Driffield; Beverley Dispensary and Hospital; Wirksworth Cottage Hospital; Staines Hospital; Stanmore Cottage Hospital; Epping Cottage Hospital; Arundel Hospital.