49. Mr. G. Wilsonasked the Minister of Health what progress has been made with the plans for the new hospital at St. Austell; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. R. ThompsonThe regional hospital board is negotiating the conveyance of the land which is being given for a new hospital, and has recently had preliminary discussions with officers of the Ministry about the plans for the first phase of building, which is to consist of a maternity unit.
Mr. WilsonAs the land has been given and there has been already a substantial legacy towards the building of the first stage my constituents cannot understand why this matter is taking so long.
§ Mr. ThompsonI appreciate that this has been a long-drawn-out matter. The site originally chosen for a new hospital at St. Austell was found to be quite unsuitable, as my hon. Friend will remember. A new site has been generously given by Mrs. Sawle and the board has completed negotiations with the county council, who were the tenants. There is still a sub-tenant to deal with. All these points tend to spin the matter out.
50. Mr. G. Wilsonasked the Minister of Health what progress has been made with the plans for the new hospital at Truro; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. R. ThompsonSketch plans for the first phase of the scheme were submitted last July, and the detailed comments made by the Ministry's officers are about to be discussed with the regional hospital board.
Mr. WilsonAn inordinate time seems to be taken in this case also. If the plans were drawn up last July, why has not further progress been made?
§ Mr. ThompsonThe difficulty has been that this is a very difficult scheme to complete, except on the basis that it is phased. The regional board did not have that in mind in its original plans. It was, therefore, necessary to ask the board to produce plans which would make it possible for the building to be done by phases. This again has made it difficult to agree on a first phase which would fit in with all the subsequent additions to the scheme.