§ 34. Mr. J. Johnsonasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that there is need for increased accommodation for the elderly chronic sick at St. Luke's Hospital, Rugby; and what steps he is taking to remedy this state of affairs.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Miss Patricia Hornsby-Smith)The Regional Hospital Board is aware of the need and as soon as resources permit intends to take steps to meet it.
§ Mr. JohnsonIs the Minister aware that there is much local feeling in the town about this state of affairs, despite the fine work done by the matron and the staff? Can the hon. Lady tell me how many there are on the waiting list at the moment and, more important, what is the average length of lime a patient is on the waiting list before being admitted?
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithThe reply to the first half of the supplementary question is that there are fifteen males on the waiting list and twenty-two females, and in the whole group there is a total of 407 beds for chronic sick. The first essential, even before we provide new accommodation, is to increase the staff, which would enable us to open, in another hospital in the group, 42 beds which are now closed through lack of staff.