§ 40. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the need at the West Hill Hospital, Dartford, for the provision of a new out-patients department at the earliest possible moment what consideration has been given to the matter and if he will make sufficient funds available to enable work to commence at an early date.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe regional hospital board has not, so far, been able to include it within its current programme, and I am not in a position to increase the capital allocation to enable it to do so.
§ Mr. DoddsDoes not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that he is the nigger in the woodpile here, because last year there were 18,000 more attendances at the outpatients department than there were in 1951, and that the present premises are totally inadequate for that number? Does he realise that, with a little more provision, people would be able to get proper treatment and stay in their own homes, instead of queueing up for hospital beds, which are more costly?
§ Mr. MacleodThe hon. Gentleman will know that the priority at the West Hill Hospital is not for the out-patients department but for the operating theatre. I understand that that particular scheme is moving towards completion.