§ 47. Mr. Pitmanasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the premises of the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases at Bath are in a state of decrepitude and danger by risk of fire; and, in view of the national service and importance of this hospital as a centre for the treatment of rheumatic diseases, what steps he intends to take to expedite the necessary work of reconstruction.
§ Mr. VosperI am aware that this hospital falls short of modern standards, and I am at present examining the proposal of the South Western Regional Hospital Board that the project to restore it should be included in the programme of major building projects which are financed centrally.
§ Mr. PitmanI thank the Minister for that reply, but I ask him to urge the national need in serving the whole country upon the Regional Hospital Board whose responsibility is primarily regional.
§ Mr. VosperI have that in mind. Of course, this is not by any means the only hospital which draws its patients from all over the country.
Mr. T. WilliamsIs the Minister aware that this particular hospital received donations to the extent of nearly£90,000 to rebuild the hospital before the war, and that it is really more national than regional, being the oldest hospital of its kind in the country dealing exclusively with rheumatism? While we agree with the policy of the right hon. Gentleman's Department for more rheumatic units at all hospitals in the country, does he not agree that there is an absolutely first-class case for this particular hospital, and ought we not to stop bandying it about first from the Ministry of Health to the Regional Hospital Board and then back again?
§ Mr. VosperI do not think that that point is particularly material; the money has to come out of the same pocket, whichever way the financing is done. The difficulty is that priorities have changed since this hospital was first put down for rebuilding and more urgent needs have arisen; but I am doing what I can to meet the right hon. Gentleman's point.