HC Deb 06 March 1961 vol 636 cc31-3
36. Mr. Tiley

asked the Minister of Health when work will begin on the new hospital in Bradford which is to replace the Royal Eye and Ear Hospital, in view of the long period which has elapsed since it was announced that the money was available for this project.

41. Mr. George Craddock

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the fact that more than two years ago £500,000 was allocated for the erection of a new Bradford Royal Eye and Ear Hospital to serve the 146,000 contributors and their families, all of whom are former, present or potential patients of the hospital, if he will now state the date when building will commence.

Mr. Powell

The sketch plans are under consideration, but I cannot yet give a commencement date.

Mr. Tiley

Is not my right hon. Friend consumed with anxiety at the lengthy delay of nearly two-and-a-half years which has taken place since this hospital, which is so urgently needed in the City of Bradford, was first planned? What can there be left to discuss after such a long period? Is there not something wrong with the system of building new hospitals? Is my right hon. Friend not aware that wherever new hospitals are planned there is disquiet in the country at these delays? Why is it that we can make such an advance in all other types of building and so little advance in building hospitals after they are planned?

Mr. Powell

I hope that the new procedures, which I announced in January, will result in greater expedition in the various stages of the creation of new hospitals and will result in much more certainty, further in advance, as to what is going to happen then.

Mr. Craddock

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that delay has upset the calculations of both doctors and staff, who have had to work under very cramped conditions? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, as the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Tiley) said just now, all the necessary information has been to hand for more than two years, and is it not time that the Minister gave the green light for building to commence?

Mr. Powell

The sketch plans for this hospital were received in my Department only in December.

Mr. Snow

Is this not a case where the Minister might usefully look into the organisation and methods aspect of the regional architect's department? Is he aware that, judging by the example of Birmingham some years ago, this is a department which, more than any other department, can cause untoward delays in the completion of hospitals?

Mr. Powell

I think that the methods which I announced in January are of the greatest importance in producing greater uniformity and in streamlining all hospital planning procedure.

Mr. Tiley

In view of the fact that the sketch plans were received last December, that means a delay of two years prior to the announcement of the plan and the reception of the sketch plan. Cannot something be done to speed that process? In view of my right hon. Friend's interest in timetables, can he set a timetable for the commencement of this hospital? Otherwise we shall go on talking and planning for years.

Mr. Powell

I have already announced that I hope as soon as possible to give commencing dates for all the major schemes for which I or my predecessors have announced approval.