§ 48. Mr. J. Howardasked the Minister of Health what plans have been accepted for alterations to the Children's Hospital at Southampton; and when it is anticipated that the present buildings will be replaced.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI am informed that work will begin almost immediately to improve the wards and ancillary accommodation at this hospital at an estimated cost of £20,000. Proposals for the future development of Southampton General Hospital include the provision of a children's unit to replace the Children's Hospital, but I cannot say when it will be possible for this development to take place.
§ Mr. HowardWill my right hon. and learned Friend be good enough to publicise the circumstances which led him to reach the decision about patching 675 the Children's Hospital in view of the fact that there is considerable disquiet among my constituents in Southampton about the wisdom of spending money on this old property?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI do not know about publishing it, but in summary I can tell my hon. Friend that the present condition of the Children's Hospital is undoubtedly unsatisfactory, and in view of the uncertainty as to when funds can be made available for the major development of Southampton General Hospital, it seemed necessary to carry out these improvements.
§ Dr. KingIs the Minister aware that all Southampton is agreed that the Children's Hospital is an old-fashioned and unsuitable building, that extensions and improvements are simply second-best solutions, but that the local board must be guided by the capital resources at its disposal? We should be grateful if Southampton could have some idea when the major projects for the Children's Hospital are likely to take place.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithA preliminary estimate of the cost of the proposed development at Southampton General Hospital, which, of course, includes much more than the children's unit, is said to be about £750,000 to £1 million. It is a big matter, and the regional hospital board has not yet put proposals before me.