HC Deb 01 April 1957 vol 568 cc15-7
34. Mr. V. Yates

asked the Minister of Health how many patients are in daily attendance at the psysiotherapy department of the Birmingham General Hospital; how many are on the waiting list requiring treatment; and how long they must wait before receiving treatment.

Mr. Vosper

The average daily attendance of out-patients is 400, and the average number on the waiting list is 200. Acute cases are treated at once, and other cases wait up to six weeks, but this department does not accept chronic cases.

Mr. Yates

Is it not a serious situation that there is such a large number of old people who have suffered from strokes but can get no treatment whatever unless they wait for this long period? Will the Minister take steps to effect a speeding up?

Mr. Vosper

I am not quite clear what the hon. Member has in mind. Acute cases are dealt with immediately, and chronic cases are not dealt with at all at this hospital. As I think the hon. Member knows, there has been a considerable improvement since he visited the hospital and all the vacancies for physiotherapists have now been filled.

35. Mr. V. Yates

asked the Minister of Health the number of attendances which took place at the Birmingham General Hospital, outpatient and casualty departments, respectively, in 1956; what has been the approximate weekly attendance at both departments in 1957; and whether he will examine the need for improvements to enable urgent medical work to be carried out under more satisfactory conditions to both patients and medical staff.

Mr. Vosper

176,859 and 141,912, respectively. The corresponding weekly figures in 1957 are 3,701 and 2,343; the board of governors is aware that the accommodation in these departments is not satisfactory. The board has in hand a series of schemes to improve the outpatient department and contemplates the erection of a new casualty department as soon as other major commitments permit.

Mr. Yates

While expressing my personal thanks to the Minister for that answer, may I ask him to consider whether the figures he has now given to the House do not reveal that this is probably the largest outpatient and casualty department in the entire country? Will he not agree that it was not built for numbers of that size and that, consequently, a serious strain is imposed on the staff, as well as inconvenience to the patients?

Mr. Vosper

I think that that is probably so; I agree with the hon. Member.