§ 41. Mr. William Wellsasked the Minister of Health what action he proposes to take to bring the proportion of beds available in geriatric wards for the population served by the Walsall Hospital Management Committee up to the national average for England and Wales.
§ Mr. SnowSixty-eight more geriatric beds are to be provided at Manor Hospital, Walsall, by 1970; proposals for building further geriatric wards after 1970 are being considered.
§ Mr. WellsDoes my hon. Friend appreciate that even the 68 beds will still leave us somewhat below the national 1037 average—unless in the meantime there is a complete standstill in providing geriatric beds in the rest of the country—and that in a highly industrialised town such as Walsall demand for geriatric beds exceeds the national average rather than being below it?
§ Mr. SnowYes, Sir. It is a fact that at present the provision of geriatric beds is below the national average. But the further beds to be provided after 1970, of which I have given notice, will take account of expected increase in population and other changes in circumstances, including the possible loss of accommodation through a road widening scheme. We think that the provisions now programmed should meet the requirements.