HC Deb 04 March 1954 vol 524 cc1354-5
42. Mrs. Castle

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a number of mothers in Blackburn are being refused the opportunity of having their babies in hospital or maternity homes; and whether he will instruct hospital management committees that maternity beds should be provided under the National Health Service for all mothers who prefer not to have their babies at home.

Mr. Iain Macleod

I have already written to the hon. Member enclosing a copy of a circular to hospitals which asks them to provide maternity beds for mothers who require them on medical or social grounds. It would not be practicable to provide beds for all mothers who prefer not to have their babies at home. In Blackburn the percentage of confinements in hospitals is much higher than in most other areas, and less than 2 per cent, of those who applied in 1953 were refused admission.

Mrs. Castle

Is the right hon. Gentle man aware that as a result of the recent closing of Springfield Maternity Home in Blackburn, mothers who want to have their second child in hospital or in a maternity home have been told that they cannot and must have it at home, although they have no one to look after them, as, for example, in the case which I have in my hands now? In this case, when the mother was referred to the Manchester Regional Hospital Board they told her they could not do anything be cause the right hon. Gentleman had in structed them to reduce the number of cases of mothers having their babies in hospital—

Mr. Speaker

With regard to Springfield hospital, I call the hon. Lady's attention to the fact that the hon. Member for Accrington (Mr. H. Hynd) has a Motion down on the Adjournment tonight for discussion of that matter. We cannot anticipate that Motion.

Mrs. Castle

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is that going to preclude me from raising the general principle, which I have just referred to, of an instruction by the Minister of Health to the regional hospital board in Manchester to reduce the number of maternity cases in Manchester?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Lady asked a Question on a general principle and then asked a supplementary question about the closing of Springfield hospital. I was pointing out to her that that would be anticipating the Motion of the hon. Member for Accrington tonight.

Mrs. Castle

This maternity home is in my constituency. I have no guarantee that I shall be able to speak tonight.

Mr. Speaker

I cannot help that. We cannot anticipate the Motion on the Adjournment.

Mr. G. Thomas

Are you now ruling, Mr. Speaker, that an hon. Member will not be allowed to ask a question about his own constituency if someone else happens to have given notice that at some time, if he is in the Chamber, he will raise that question on the Adjournment?

Mr. Speaker

The question as to one hon. Member asking a Question about another hon. Member's constituency is one between the Members involved. I am only concerned with the rules of order, which prohibit us from anticipating matters, notice of the raising of which on the Adjournment has been given.

Mrs. Castle

On a point of order—

Mr. Speaker

I cannot deal further with that point of order.