§ 37. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will re-examine as a matter of urgency the 1274 provision of a maternity unit in Glenrothes in Fife.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mrs. Judith Hart)My right hon. Friend has put in hand a review of the hospital building programme and he will be considering the provsion for maternity in Fife and elsewhere in Scotland in the course of that review.
§ Mr. HamiltonDoes my hon. Friend, as a representative herself of a new town, recognise the urgency of the problem that is involved in the Question? May I have an assurance that we shall not be palmed off, as we were by the previous Administration, with the provision of beds in Kirkcaldy or somewhere else other than Glenrothes?
§ Mrs. HartAs my hon. Friend knows, I am very interested in new towns, and I can assure him that I am aware of the problems of the young and growing population in Glenrothes. I think he will recognise that in the review, which will be made as speedily as possible, there are three factors to be considered. There is the distance to be travelled, the need to recognise the problems of other areas, and thirdly—one of the most important factors—the need to be sure that the best possible standard of medical care is being provided for mothers and their babies. It is with all these factors in mind that the review will be completed.
§ Mr. NobleDoes the hon. Lady mean that the whole of the hospital plan is again to be reviewed by her right hon. Friend?
§ Mrs. HartWe are carrying out a review of the whole of the hospital programme in the light of present circumstances.