HC Deb 31 May 1965 vol 713 cc1173-4
49. Mr. Dean

asked the Minister of Health what proposals he has for increasing the resources available for hospitals and local health services in the South-West, in view of the large number of old people who live in this region.

Mr. K. Robinson

I will consider whether any modification in the allocation of resources between hospital boards is necessary when I have the results of the current review in which I have asked boards to ensure that not only a due, but an early share of what is available should be devoted to the geriatric services. The resources allocated to local health services are for each local health authority to determine.

Mr. Dean

I am obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for that information, but will the Minister bear in mind that the recent report on the economy of the South-West has made it quite clear that the proportion of old people in the population in that region is much greater than such proportion is in any other region, and that that proportion is almost certain to grow?

Mr. Robinson

Yes, but I should tell the hon. Gentleman that the regional board has got many schemes either in hand or planned for additional geriatric accommodation, and I recently announced that a new 60-bed geriatric unit would be started at Manor Park, Bristol, at the end of this year. Perhaps I could add that the capital allocations for this region in the two previous years were £2.4 million, and £3.4 million, and this year we have been able to increase them to £4 million.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is still a shortage of geriatric beds in Cornwall in particular, and that if his previous answer, when he said he was going to review the kind of beds for old, retired people, means anything, Cornwall should come in for a considerably higher proportion of grant?

Mr. Robinson

I have no doubt that that consideration will be taken into account by the board, and by my Department when it gets the board's revised plans.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

How soon?

Mr. Peter Mills

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that this is a very real problem? We like to welcome people who come to retire in glorious Devon, but it does create a problem. Could he look into the idea of taking over some of the older houses and converting them into hospital units?

Mr. Robinson

It really is not for me to take those decisions. It is for the regional board, with the allocation provided for it, to do the best it can according to the priorities which it thinks are right.