New District General Hospital, Redditch

HC Deb 03 July 1967 vol 749 c1237

5. Mr. Dance

asked the Minister of Health if he will give a starting and completion date for the new district general hospital in Redditch.

Mr. Snow

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member on 10th April.—[Vol. 744, c. 127.]

Mr. Dance

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that already there is a grave shortage of hospital beds in Redditch, particularly for maternity cases, and as this new town is developed there is great anxiety in many people's minds about when they will get this new hospital? When will we get a statement about this?

Mr. Snow

It is important to understand that my Department has to retain some flexibility about actual starts of hospitals, but I take the hon. Gentleman's point. I should perhaps say that as a short-term measure the regional hospital board has plans to improve Smallwood Hospital and provide 10 additional beds. Work will be started once the board obtains an assurance from the Redditch Development Corporation that its plans for a new town centre will leave Smallwood Hospital unaffected for at least 10 years.