§ 34 and 35. Sir P. Agnewasked the Minister of Health (1) why St. Wulstan's Hospital, Malvern Wells, is to be closed on 30th June, instead of being turned over to other hospital use within the National Health Service: and if he will make a statement as to the immediate future employment of the nursing staff, and the maintenance staff, respectively;
(2) when he was informed by the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board that St. Wulstan's Hospital would no longer be required for tuberculosis patients; and what action he then took to have the hospital kept in use and its buildings properly maintained after it ceases to be required for the treatment of tuberculosis.
§ Miss PittIn December last the Board consulted us as to possible change of use on which it is at present obtaining the views of interested local bodies. In the meantime the rapid fall in occupancy has made early closure inevitable; I am informed that the hospital will be put on a care and maintenance basis until a decision is taken about its future use; my right hon. and learned Friend has asked the Board for a full report on the question of staff redundancy and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
§ Sir P. AgnewCould not the information that the hospital was likely to close so far as tuberculosis patients were concerned have been given to the Minister earlier and arrangements made, therefore, to consider what its new use should be, which would have avoided the grave risk, as there is, of the maintenance staff actually being thrown out of employment and the hospital buildings to some extent deteriorating?
§ Miss PittMy right hon. and learned Friend was first contacted in December. The change has been very rapid. The bed occupancy last October was 107 and at the present moment it is down to four, and hence the necessity to consider quickly the possible future use of the hospital. A number of the maintenance and nursing staffs have already accepted alternative posts.
§ Sir P. AgnewWill the hon. Lady make every effort to help the regional board to bring the hospital into its new use as quickly as possible and see that no hardship is caused to the maintenance staff and that other jobs are found for them?