HC Deb 13 March 1956 vol 550 cc200-1
17. Mrs. Cullen

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the total hospital accommodation available in Glasgow for the treatment of chronic sick and old people living alone and incapable of looking after themselves.

Mr. J. N. Browne

The hospital service provides 1,112 beds in Glasgow specifically for chronic sick, and many other beds are always occupied by elderly patients in need of other forms of hospital treatment. In cases of the kind the hon. Lady has in mind, admission to local authority residential accommodation may be more appropriate, and the corporation has accommodation providing 1,511 places for this purpose.

Mrs. Cullen

Is the Under-Secretary of State aware that this is a very serious problem and that at the moment more than 800 are on the waiting list? What is he prepared to do about it?

Mr. Browne

I appreciate what the hon. Lady says. We still have a long way to go. The hospital authorities and the corporation both have in hand the provision of additional beds for this purpose.