§ 16. Mr. Woodburnasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many beds have become available for other purposes as a result of the decrease in the need for tuberculosis treatment; and whether these are being fully utilised for maternity, geriatric, and other urgent needs.
§ Mr. GalbraithBetween June, 1958, and June, 1959, some 900 tuberculosis beds became redundant. About 700 have already been put to other uses, over half being used for the elderly 1229 sick. Most of the remainder are closed only temporarily while arrangements are being made for their future use.
§ Mr. WoodburnIn view of the desperate urgency for this provision and the complaints made about hardship, could not the Minister speed up this transition of the beds from their former use as tuberculosis beds to use to meet these other urgent needs?
§ Mr. GalbraithI think that if the right hon. Member looks at the figures he will see that we have not been doing too badly. I have a great deal of sympathy for the point of view of the right hon. Member, but, due to structure and remoteness, some of the hospitals are not suited to the purpose he has in mind.