§ 27 Mr. Marquandasked the Minister of Health how many regional hospital boards will have to close beds as a consequence of insufficient allocation of funds in the coming financial year.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodI am not aware of any, except that in one locality the 2424 regional board, as I told the House last week, is considering with the hospital management committee concerned the possibility of closing two units which are in any event not fully used.
§ Mr. MarquandWill the Minister agree that the closing of any beds would be most regrettable, and will he undertake that, if there is any danger of it, he will come to this House with a Supplementary Estimate?
§ Mr. MacleodNo, I could not possibly give that undertaking. These matters should be, and are at present being, discussed between regional boards and hospital management committees. I have said that I am only aware of one locality; there may well be others, but so far they have not come to my notice at the Ministry.