§ 24. Mrs. Emmetasked the Minister of Health, now that the Cranbrook Committee has reported, what steps he is taking to provide urgently needed maternity accommodation for the growing town of East Grinstead.
§ Miss PittThe regional hospital board is in process of reviewing the existing hospital maternity provision in the region in the light of the recommendations of the Cranbrook Committee, as my right hon. and learned Friend has asked all regional boards to do, and action here must depend on the result of its review.
Mrs. EmmettDoes my hon. Friend realise that East Grinstead is growing at the rate of 18 per cent. in four years, and is continuing to grow very fast? There are no private nursing homes in the town and there is no maternity accommodation in the Victoria Hospital. Is this matter not becoming very urgent?
§ Miss PittI am informed that East Grinstead patients needing hospital confinement usually go to Cuckfield Hospital, twelve miles away, where there is a 37 bed maternity unit. This unit is under considerable pressure, partly due to its use by Crawley patients, but this situation will be relieved when the 40 bed maternity unit now under construction at Crawley is in operation. Crawley is nine miles from East Grinstead and may attract patients from the latter. I hope that that will help.
§ Dr. SummerskillAre we to understand that, wherever new maternity accommodation is provided, the Ministry is observing the percentages laid down by the Cranbrooke Committee for maternity units in hospitals?