§ 14. Sir D. Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland why adequate facilities for operations and treatment are not available at hospitals in Caithness and Sutherland, resulting in some patients having to be sent to Inverness; and, in cases where specialist services are required, why the daily air service between Inverness and Wick is not used to bring the specialists to Caithness instead of the patients being sent to Inverness.
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Michael Noble)Full diagnostic and treatment facilities, with specialist staff, accommodation and equipment, could not be provided economically, or fully used, outside the main centres of population. Visiting specialists already use the air service, but there is a limit to the usefulness of their work where they have no supporting facilities. The appointment of a consultant physician for the area is, however, under consideration.
§ Sir D. RobertsonIs it not the case that Caithness is the largest community north of Inverness and that the hospitals which are there are converted private houses more than a century old? Is it not also true that these hospitals have out-of-date equipment? Why cannot modern equipment be installed immediately?
§ Mr. NobleBecause, as I have told my hon. Friend, the Northern Regional 1226 Hospital Board is planning for a start to the new hospital early in 1964.
§ 24. Sir D. Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the hardship being caused to patients in the Highlands who, under the existing arrangements, have to pay their own fares in order to receive treatment in distant hospitals; and if he will accordingly alter the arrangements, so that those people do not get less favourable treatment than those who live south of the Highland line.
§ Mr. NobleExisting arrangements provide for payment of fares if hardship is shown; I recognise that journeys may be long in the Highlands and other rural areas but the cost is fully taken into account in assessing hardship.
§ Sir D. RobertsonIs my right hon. Friend aware that these conditions apply only north of the Highlands line? Is it not wrong that patients should have to make a round trip of 300 miles for treatment? Is he also aware of the impossibility of trying to get any money out of the authorities to compensate them? Will he not take action to make this national service equal instead of most unequal as now?
§ Mr. NobleIt is an exceedingly difficult matter to achieve complete equality because obviously, travelling long distances in the Highlands to hospital is a different proposition from taking a bus to hospital in a town. I appreciate that. However, the Statutes under which we are operating are based on hardship, and it is on hardship that help can be given.
§ Sir J. MacleodIs my right hon. Friend aware that Highland people are very proud and do not like to get public assistance in this way, as they have to do today? Surely he could meet my hon. Friend's point on this?
§ Mr. NobleI agree about the pride of the Highland people, but as we know—and we get a good many letters from constituents about this—a good many people can be helped.