HC Deb 20 April 1959 vol 604 cc26-7
52. Mr. Chetwynd

asked the Minister of Health when a decision will be made concerning the siting of the proposed new hospital for North Tees-side.

Mr. R. Thompson

I understand that the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board will be submitting a proposal shortly to my right hon. and learned Friend.

Mr. Chetwynd

Can the Parliamentary Secretary do nothing to speed this up, as there is a good deal of concern locally about which of two places this hospital will be sited at and it is holding up certain other planning proposals in the area?

Mr. Thompson

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the new North Tees-side hospital was announced as recently as last December. On his second point that uncertainties about the site are perhaps holding up the whole scheme, I do not entirely agree with him, because the Regional Board is proceeding with its schedules of accommodation for the new hospital, which I am told will be equally applicable whichever of the two sites, for both of which it has obtained planning consent, may in the end be approved.

Mr. Blenkinsop

Will the Parliamentary Secretary consider that there are very severe waiting lists in this area, to some extent owing to the increase of population, and will he do what he can to speed this matter up?

Mr. Thompson

I will certainly do that, and that is a consideration which I imagine that the Board also must have very much in mind.

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