HC Deb 11 July 1960 vol 626 cc973-4
30. Lieut.-Colonel Cordeaux

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to increase accommodation for mental deficiency cases, particularly juveniles, at Balderton Hospital.

Miss Pitt

156 more beds for children will be provided within the next two years. The Sheffield Regional Hospital Board proposes to provide in a later stage 160 additional beds for adult patients.

Lieut.-Colonel Cordeaux

I thank the hon. Lady very much for that answer. Is she aware that in the Nottingham. Central Division we have two particularly sad cases of girls aged 11 and 8 years, with desperately bad home conditions, one of whom has been on the permanent waiting list for over three years, and that a boy got a bed in 1958 after six years on the waiting list and when he was far beyond the control of his mother? Will the hon. Lady exercise all her powers to ensure that this work will be further speeded up during the next few years?

Miss Pitt

There has been a general shortage of beds for defective children, but we have provided many more beds. I shall certainly pass on the last point which my hon. and gallant Friend has made.