§ 21. Mrs. Hartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what stage has now been reached in the discussions of the West Regional Hospital Board of the proposed maternity unit at Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride; and if he will announce a date upon which the unit is likely to be established.
§ Mr. MaclayThe Western Regional Hospital Board has approved in principle the establishment of a general practitioner maternity unit at Hairmyres Hospital, but it is too early to forecast when the necessary work can be put in hand.
§ Mrs. HartDoes not the Secretary of State agree that it is most urgent that the maternity unit should come into operation in time for the present generation of East Kilbride babies to be born In view of this fact, will not he stress the real urgency of the matter to the hospital board and ask it to announce as soon as possible a date on which it is likely to be completed?
§ Mr. MaclayI think the regional hospital board is well aware of the position and must be left to determine the priorities in the first instance.