HC Deb 21 March 1962 vol 656 cc380-1
27. Mr. Willis

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement concerning the future of Edenhall Hospital.

29. Mr. J. Hill

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider replacing the present temporary buildings at Edenhall Hospital with modern permanent buildings to meet the needs of the surrounding areas.

Mr. Galbraith

The Regional Hospital Board intends that Edenhall Hospital should continue to provide a priority hospital service for war pensioners, and also facilities for paraplegic and orthopaedic patients generally. As regards replacement of the present temporary buildings, I am afraid that the resources available are committed to other developments in the region of higher priority.

Mr. Willis

If this hospital is to play its proper part in the National Health Service, will not there have to be considerable expenditure on modernisation and replacing temporary accommodation? If this large expenditure is required, could not the request of local authorities in the area that provision be made to meet the general needs of Musselburgh and Midlothian be considered?

Mr. Galbraith

These points are all very much in the mind of the Board, but, unfortunately, its priorities at the moment do not allow it to do any work on this hospital.

Mr. Hill

I thank the Under-Secretary of State for his reply. We know that part of this hospital has been reserved for the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance. I wish to raise the same point as I have raised on a previous occasion. There is a ward in the hospital which is never used because it is reserved for officers who are likely to go there for treatment. One officer went into a general ward. Something should be done about the present temporary buildings. Where does this hospital come on the priorities list?

Mr. Galbraith

It does not come on the list in the immediate future.