§ 3. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health what progress has been made in finding a suitable home for Michael Daniels, aged 7 years, an epileptic needing constant supervision, in view of the medical testimony of the danger to his brother of two years of age and the strain on the parents.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodAs the hon. Member knows, this boy has high priority for admission, but I am afraid there is no immediate vacancy.
§ Mr. DoddsDoes not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that this boy is a mental defective of a vicious type and has tried to choke the young baby, that the young child is in a very serious state and that the mother and father are losing their health? Is it not a terrible position if the right hon. Gentleman cannot find a place for a boy of this type before real tragedy occurs in his home?
§ Mr. MacleodI wrote to the hon. Gentleman about the case a couple of weeks ago. He knows the priority that this case has. It is one of 17 in the most urgent category of all. The board knows—it has again been brought to its attention—how urgent the case is. I am certain that the board knows the priority and will do its best.
§ Mr. DoddsCannot the right hon. Gentleman give the mother and father a little hope as to whether it will be one month, two months or three months?
§ Mr. MacleodThe hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well that the question of which child is to be put at the top of the list must be decided on medical priorities by the board and not by interchange between hon. Members in this manner. All I can do is to make absolutely certain that the board knows the priority that the child has, and the reply which I have given to the hon. Member indicates that.
§ 12. Mr. Boardmanasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that 12-year-old Brian McCaul, of Leigh, Lancashire, concerning whose case there has been protracted correspondence, has been waiting half of his lifetime for admission to hospital despite a top priority; and if he will give an assurance of admission in the immediate future.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodI am well aware of this sad case but regret that the shortage of accommodation for this kind of patient makes it impossible to promise admission to a suitable institution in the immediate future.
§ Mr. BoardmanIn view of the fact that despite his high priority this boy has been waiting six years, can the Minister say how many of these tragic Brian McCauls there are awaiting beds throughout the country? Will he try to arrange additional accommodation in the various regions?
§ Mr. MacleodOn the second point, as I am sure the hon. Member knows, we are doing a very great deal and in the Liverpool and Manchester regions, which share their accommodation for this purpose, 250 extra beds will be provided in the next two years, quite apart from Greaves Hall, which is going to provide 1,000 beds, of which 300 are for children.
On the question of the total waiting lists in the country, I have given the figures on many occasions, as the hon. Member will see from the OFFICIAL REPORT. However, if he would like the up-to-date figures, he should put down another Question.
§ Mr. BoardmanWill the Minister bear in mind that cases of this description, which completely wear out the parents, bring disaster to the family? It is not just the boy who is concerned.
§ Mr. MacleodI know that. It is one of the reasons I have consistently tried since I became Minister to give priority to mental health.