§ 15. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he intends to take to reorganise the National Health Service.
§ Mr. MillanI would refer to the Answer my right hon. Friend gave on 7th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Dunbartonshire, West (Mr. Steele).—[Vol. 753, c. 102.]
§ Mr. HamiltonI have read that reply, which refers to purely administrative matters, which, of course, are important. Is there any intention, either in the immediate future or in the long term, to consider the whole financial structure of the services against the administration?
§ Mr. MillanNo. The financing of the service is a matter which can be considered at any time, but the review in question is concerned, as my hon. Friend has said, with the administration of the service.
Mr. Edward M. TaylorIs the Minister aware that in Glasgow in particular, there is a desperate shortage of hospital beds and urgent cases are having to be turned away? Is there anything which can be done in this problem in the short term, apart from the long-term building programme?
§ Mr. MillanI am aware that there is a shortage of hospital beds, but I would not call it desperate. I am not aware that acute cases are being turned away from hospitals.