HC Deb 27 November 1963 vol 685 cc264-5
19. Mr. Gourlay

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the building progress of the Randolph Wemyss Memorial Hospital extension; and when he expects it will be available to relieve the long waiting list of geriatric patients in urgent need of hospital facilities.

Mr. Stodart

Building has been completed ahead of schedule and the extension should be in operation by the end of the year.

Mr. Gourlay

The hon. Gentleman's reply conflicts somewhat with the actual case. The East Fife board of management was advised that the building would be finished in September this year. What has happened has caused considerable administrative difficulty with regard to the furnishing of the hospital extension and with regard to staff. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this merely scratches the surface of the problem of providing geriatric beds in the East Fife area? What proposals has he to speed up the provision of beds for aged chronic sick in the Kirkcaldy and East Fife district?

Mr. Stodart

The final completion date has always been December, 1963. At one time it looked as if the building could be completed by September. In the event, this has not proved possible, but completion is still ahead of schedule. The progress of the project reflects credit on all concerned.

On the second point, a sixty-bed unit at Cameron Hospital was completed in May this year, and a further sixty-bed medical unit is to be provided at Miles-mark Hospital, which will enable beds to be released for geriatric patients.

Mr. Gourlay

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that some of those beds represent provision and facilities for West Fife and do not in any way reflect an improvement in the position of East Fife? Also, if the contract date for completion of the hospital was December, how was it that the board was advised that it could take possession of the extension in September?

Mr. Stodart

With regard to the second part of the question, as far as I am aware this was a rather over-optimistic expression of opinion by someone. It was never official. On the first point, I hope that the hon. Gentleman is not one who would suggest that "East is East and West is West and never the twain should meet."