§ 39. Mr. Hazellasked the Minister of Health what reply he has given to the petition, signed by 6,000 residents of the town of Fakenham, North Norfolk, and its immediate area, urging the provision of maternity hospital facilities in the district; and what action he proposes to take on this matter.
§ Mr. LoughlinI have sent my hon. Friend a copy of the reply. A new maternity unit to serve the Fakenham area is being provided as part of the King's Lynn district general hospital on which work is expected to start early in 1969. In addition, some patients will be able to go to the new maternity unit at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital which should be completed towards the end of next year.
§ Mr. HazellAs the maternity hospitals are well over 20 miles from the township of Fakenham, could not my hon. Friend advise the regional hospital board to add a small extension to the Wells Cottage Hospital?
§ Mr. LoughlinThe difficulty of advising the regional hospital board on a 941 project of this kind is that it is now accepted that the only way to give patients correct care and atention is by means of a large maternity unit where all the services are available.