§ 5. Miss Herbisonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the centre for the treament of and research into rheumatic diseases will be in operation in Glasgow.
§ Mr. NobleIt is expected that the work of reconstructing Baird Street Hospital for this purpose will be completed in the autumn of 1964.
§ Miss HerbisonShould not the Secretary of State urge that this hospital should be completed this year? Is he not aware that it is since 1957 that the Western Regional Hospital Board has known about the need for this and that the Board, which caters for over half the population in Scotland in health matters, has no such centre at all in an area where the incidence of all types of rheumatism is very high?
§ Mr. NobleI agree with the hon. Lady that we want to get this operating as soon as possible and there has been some delay in the past. After looking round, it was found that there was no obvious alternative but to try to convert existing buildings, and this has been a difficult and slow process.
§ Miss HerbisonIs it not a very considerable time ago that it was decided that the Baird Street clinic in Glasgow should be used? What has caused the delay since the decision to use it?
§ Mr. NobleI am only aware of the difficulties of which I have been told, which is that a very large number of structural alterations are being made within the existing hospital.