HC Deb 13 December 1954 vol 535 cc1382-5
59. Mr. W. Griffiths

asked the Minisster of Health the number of capital projects in south Manchester hospitals which have been approved by the regional hospital board but which are not in operation because of shortage of money for maintenance and staff.

Mr. Iain Macleod

I am making inquiries and will write to the hon. Member.

60. Mr. W. Griffiths

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that 25 additional beds provided at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, and 10 additional beds provided at Baguley Hospital, Manchester, cannot be used because the hospital management committees have insufficient money to staff and maintain them; and whether he will take action to see that this accommodation is put into use.

Mr. Iain Macleod

I understand that, for the reason given, the hospital management committee is experiencing difficulty in bringing these additional beds into use, but that the regional board has urged on it the desirability of finding the money by savings in the cost of running existing services.

Mr. Griffiths

Is the Minister aware that it would be quite impossible -for the hospital management committee to find from current maintenance expenditure the money with which to staff and maintain this new project because the hospital management committee is already being compelled to discharge maintenance workers and to cut down expenditure on meals for patients and staff because of its inability to keep within the current maintenance expenditure figure?

Mr. Macleod

The regional hospital board tell me that it will take this matter into account in making its allocation to the hospital management committee next year.

Mrs. Hill

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the hospital management committee has met the regional hospital board on these items and that in our budget for this year no money was allowed for our maintenance schemes? We have thousands of pounds worth of maintenance, improvement and capital schemes which we cannot put into operation at all. It is a waste of money.

Mr. Macleod

In view of what my hon. Friend says, I should like to look into the case which she mentions.

Mr. I. O. Thomas

Will the Minister please indicate how the regional hospital board can take into account and allow for the developments mentioned in the Question if, according to his earlier answer, we have already decided upon the amount of allocations under which no proposals other than those within that expenditure limit can be entered into by the regional hospital board?

Mr. Macleod

I am afraid that the hon. Gentleman is confusing capital expenditure, which was the subject of an earlier Question, with maintenance expenditure.

61. Mr. W. Griffiths

asked the Minister of Health what action he proposes to take to reduce the waiting period of 16 months being experienced by children awaiting tonsil and adenoid operations at the Manchester Ear Hospital and whether he is aware of the concern in Manchester at the lengthening of the waiting period at this hospital during the last six months.

Mr. Iain Macleod

I am in communication with the regional hospital board and will write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Griffiths

Does the Minister recall that when I asked him about this hospital in July, the waiting period was then 15 months, and that he promised that he would look into the position with the regional hospital board with a view to effecting some transfers? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that though there has been a small transfer to one hospital, the average number of operations performed on children in all hospitals in Manchester has been much smaller in the past five months than before I asked the Question? This has been a worsening of the position and not an improvement. Will the right hon. Gentleman treat the matter as one of the greatest urgency?

Mr. Macleod

Although the time on the waiting lists has gone up by one month, I understand that the numbers on the lists have dropped by 9 or 10 per cent.

Mr. Marquand

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in all these Questions which have been asked this afternoon about capital allocations there has not been a single unreasonable Question nor a bad-tempered supplementary? Is he further aware that the whole House will be glad that he has announced his intention of seeing his right hon. Friend the Chancellor about this matter, and will he draw to the attention of his right hon. Friend all that has been said this afternoon?

Mr. Macleod

I remember saying last week that no one knows better than my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer the needs in this matter.