§ 19. Mr. E. Fletcherasked the Minister of Health what protests he has received about the sudden closure of the maternity unit at the Mildmay Memorial Hospital.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodI have had one letter from local general practitioners, sent to me both by the hon. Member and by the hon. and learned Member for Stoke Newington and Hackney, North (Mr. Weitzman); and one informal letter from the British Medical Association.
§ Mr. FletcherIs this another case of the precipitate closure of maternity beds like that raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Accrington (Mr. H. Hynd)? Is the Minister making a habit of it? Does he not realise the great inconvenience and hardship caused to 200 patients in my constituency who had arranged to have their confinements at this hospital? Is it the policy of the Minister to close down maternity beds without warning like this?
§ Mr. MacleodThe hon. Member knows perfectly well from the correspondence he has had with me that I was a tenant-at-will in this building and that no action of mine, nor any action of the regional hospital board, has led to the closing.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonIs it not a fact that the right hon. Gentleman, as tenant-at-will of these premises, received notice to quit from the owners and that a dangerous structure notice was served in respect of another part of the premises? Was that not the reason why action had to be taken?
§ Dr. SummerskillHaving regard to the fact that an attempt was made to close Fulham Maternity Home, can the right hon. Gentleman say how many maternity units have been closed in the last two years?
§ Mr. MacleodIf the right hon. Lady will put that question down I will endeavour to answer it.