HC Deb 06 February 1956 vol 548 cc1339-41
60. Mr. Remnant

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements are being made for maternity cases, in-patients and out-patients of Bracknell, including the new town; and what capital expenditure is involved.

The Minister of Health (Mr. R. H. Turton)

The present proposals are to expand the maternity unit at Wokingham and to provide facilities for other inpatients and out-patients at Heatherwood Hospital. The cost of the former is not yet known: the developments at Heather-wood are provisionally estimated to cost £75,000.

Mr. Remnant

In view of the rate of development as planned, is it not quite essential that these services should be available before 1959 and, therefore, should start at once—or as soon as plans are approved? Will my right hon. Friend give some assurance that the hospital planned for Farley Hall has not been abandoned?

Mr. Turton

The Heatherwood Hospital unit will start in the 1957–58 programme. With reference to the last part of the question, that proposal has not been abandoned, but it is not in any of the immediate programmes.