§ 24. Mrs. Mannasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many births with a doctor in charge were actually con ducted in hospital in 1958; and what is the period of stay in such cases.
§ Mr. J. N. BrowneSeventy-two thousand nine hundred and sixty-five births took place in Scottish hospitals in 1958. There is always a doctor in charge of the patient, though he is not always present at the birth. The average duration of stay in hospital was ten days.
§ Mrs. MannIs the hon. Gentleman satisfied that it was necessary for all those women to flee like a crowd of battery hens and hatch their eggs in an institution surrounded by other squawking hens, when they could, with some cooperation on the part of the doctor, have had their babies at home?
§ Mr. BrowneI would hardly agree with the hon. Lady in referring to Scottish 1053 mothers as squawking hens or battery hens. This is really a matter for the medical adviser.