HC Deb 12 December 1955 vol 547 c819
46. Mr. Moss

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the establishment of a clinic in Atherstone in the County of Warwick for the treatment of incapacitated miners who at present have to travel long distances to be treated in Nuneaton.

The Minister of Health (Mr. fain Macleod)

I am informed that adequate services are provided at Manor Hospital, Nuneaton, and arrangements are made for the transport of patients when necessary.

Mr. Moss

is the right hon. Gentleman aware that present arrangements expose miners who are incapacitated to great personal inconvenience and seriously affect the production in the coal industry in scattered mining villages, where miners have to travel such great distances? Will the right hon. Gentleman give earnest consideration to a statement if I send him one?

Mr. Macleod

I will consider anything the hon. Gentleman sends me, but I understand that Atherstone is not more than five miles from Nuneaton. Only about eighteen miners a week are involved in this matter, and it would clearly be uneconomical, I should have thought, to have another clinic at Atherstone.

Mr. Chetwynd

Will the right hon. Gentleman take it from me—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."] It is my home; that is how I know. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Atherstone is a convenient place for many people to get to and then go on to Nuneaton, and that there would be a considerable saving of time and money if a centre could be provided there?

Mr. Macleod

I have undertaken to look carefully at a memorandum which, I understand, the hon. Member for Meriden (Mr. Moss) is going to send me.