§ 9. Mr. Iremongerasked the Minister of Health on what principles appointments are made to regional hospital boards and to group hospital management committees.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithMy right hon. Friend's aim is to appoint as members of regional hospital boards those who can, in a personal capacity, make an effective contribution to the planning and administration of the hospital and specialist services. Boards have been asked to follow the same principle in their appointments to hospital management committees.
§ Mr. IremongerCan my hon. Friend give an assurance that special consideration will be given to the desirability of seeing that local authorities are adequately represented on these boards?
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithI do not think we can depart from the principle of choosing the people whom we think can give the best service on these boards and committees. To allow direct representation from the local authorities would create considerable difficulties, because some areas have many small authorities in them and others possibly only one.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopWill the hon. Lady keep in mind the recommendations of the Guillebaud Report, which were to the effect that there should be no overlapping 17 of specialist representation on the regional boards or hospital management committees?
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithWe have that in mind.
§ 10. Mr. Iremongerasked the Minister of Health what is the limit to the number of members who may serve on the North East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board; how many members are at present serving on that board; which of the serving members was nominated by the Ilford Borough Council; and how many nominees of the Ilford Borough Council have been appointed since the foundation of the board.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithThe maximum number is 22 (including the chairman), and 22 are serving at present. No nominee of the Ilford Borough Council has been appointed since the formation of the board.
§ Mr. IremongerWill my hon. Friend take note of the fact that there is very great dissatisfaction in the Borough of Ilford at the consistent and persistent disregard of the borough council's recommendations; and at the neglect which has been shown to provide that this most important borough should be adequately represented?
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithThe regional hospital board, under the terms of the Act, is required to consult local health authorities, but, as my hon. Friend knows, the borough of Ilford does not come into that category.
§ 11. Mr. Iremongerasked the Minister of Health how many persons nominated by the Ilford Borough Council have been appointed to the Ilford and Barking Group Hospital Management Committee in the years 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955 and 1956, respectively.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithOne in 1948 and one in 1952.
§ Mr. IremongerWill my hon. Friend take note of the fact that the dissatisfaction which I expressed in my supplementary question on the previous Question applies with equal force to this Question?