HC Deb 22 November 1954 vol 533 cc780-1
55. Mr. Albu

asked the Minister of Health how many of the patients at present attending the Edmonton chest clinic are residents in the urban district of Enfield.

Mr. Iain Macleod

Eight hundred and ninety-one of the 1,976 patients at present registered at the clinic.

Mr. Albu

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise how urgent this matter is? Can he say when the officers of his Department will visit this chest clinic, as he promised me last week?

Mr. Macleod

As to the second part of the supplementary question, that is being arranged at once. I saw to it immediately after Question time last week. As for the other part of the supplementary, I realise that this matter is urgent, and it is hoped to provide these facilities at the North Middlesex Hospital.

Mr. Ernest Davies

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that a large number of these residents at Enfield who attend the clinic have to journey a considerable distance, and that when they get to the hospital the accommodation facilities are inadequate? Will he bear this in mind when he considers this proposed capital expenditure?

Mr. Macleod

The population of 200,000 between Enfield and Edmonton, which is looked after at this clinic, is not excessive for such a chest clinic. What are bad are the facilities which, as the hon. Gentleman says, are inadequate. We are taking that matter into account.

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