HC Deb 31 January 1962 vol 652 cc1085-6
29. Miss Herbison

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what facilities for the treatment of acute cases will be provided at Law Hospital when the new hospital is functioning at Strathclyde, Motherwell.

Mr. Galbraith

Law Hospital will have 150 acute beds covering the major specialities of medicine, surgery, gynaecology, and orthopaedics.

Miss Herbison

Can the hon. Gentleman assure us that this small number of beds, 150, at this hospital will be able to attract the consultant staff, both medical and surgical, whom one would want in these modern days to have for our people, and can he also assure us that when the acute cases number is run down to 150 this will still continue as a nurses' training establishment?

Mr. Galbraith

I should like notice of the latter part of that supplementary question.

Miss Herbison

Surely we can have an answer to the first part? Surely when the Secretary of State was examining this and finally decided that 150 beds would be needed for acute cases this was a matter to which he ought to have given serious consideration—the attracting of the proper staff?

Mr. Galbraith

The hon. Lady appreciates that it will be working in collaboration with the other two hospitals at Strathclyde and Coatbridge.

Mr. Lawson

Can the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he will not so scatter the beds for acute services that it is not possible to provide Lanarkshire with a decent, large-sized hospital which will be centrally situated to meet the needs of most people in the area and which will be able to provide all the medical and surgery facilities which modern medicine requires?

Mr. Galbraith

That is precisely the intention of my right hon. Friend.

Mrs. Hart

Does not the hon. Gentleman realise that it is most unfair to the board of management of Law Hospital if it is not made clear in the very near future indeed to them by the Western Region Hospital Board how far they may expect to proceed with their own proposals for future developments at Law Hospital following the decision of the Secretary of State? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there are many problems which have to be studied and that his Answer today cannot possibly be a reassurance to Law Hospital?

Mr. Galbraith

I am very well aware that many points have to be discussed and details are in the process of being planned and worked out now.