HC Deb 20 February 1963 vol 672 cc428-9
17. Dr. Dickson Mabon

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the recent withdrawal of maternity beds at Larkfield Hospital, Greenock, because of the shortage of staff; and what steps he is taking to speed up the provision of an adequate number of fully staffed maternity beds to serve Greenock and district.

Mr. Brooman-White

My right hon. Friend understands that the board of management has decided to close five maternity beds for private patients, which it had found exceptionally difficult to staff. The hospital building programme includes provision for 35 additional maternity beds for the area.

Dr. Mabon

While these figures may seem small, they represent a great number of people spread over many months, since the beds are used only for short periods and this area serves not only Renfrewshire but also Bute and part of Argyll. Is it not all the more important that the Hospital Plan should not be used as an obstacle to prevent the provision of mare maternity beds in the next year or two? Will the Minister tell me when he intends to sanction the building of the new wing in the Rankin Hospital for more maternity beds? Is it this year or next?

Mr. Brooman-White

I do not think that I can add, on the Rankin Hospital, to what was said in the Hospital Plan, in which it was said that it was hoped to make a start in the period before 1965. The hon. Member appreciates that the closing of this small unit was due to particular staffing difficulties in that small unit.

Mr. Manuel

I understood the Minister to say that these were private beds. Would he not take away this designation, when possibly he would find that they would be more fully used by ordinary people in this area?

Mr. Brooman-White

That is a wider question. The problem here was a staffing problem in exceptional circumstances.