§ 20. Mr. Adam Hunterasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider the building of a new hospital in the Dunfermline and West Fife area to replace the present complex of separate units making up the hospital service in this area; and what action he proposes to take.
§ Mr. MillanThe building of a new district general hospital to serve Dunfermline and West Fife is accepted by all 391 concerned as the long-term solution to the hospital needs of the area. It is not yet possible to say when the project is likely to find a place in the programme, and the existing facilities have therefore been improved and extended.
§ Mr. HunterIs my hon. Friend aware that it is becoming increasingly apparent that a new general hospital is required to replace the several out-dated buildings making up the Dunfermline and West Fife hospital services? Would he not give favourable consideration to the possibility of putting this into the forthcoming quinquennial review?
§ Mr. MillanIt is agreed by everyone that we need a new district general hospital in this area, but I cannot say when this project can be fitted into the programme.
§ Mr. William HamiltonHas my hon. Friend taken into account medical evidence in the area, some of which suggests that lives are being lost because of this dichotomy of provision for the West Fife area? Will he give a firm undertaking that this provision will be in the next quinquennial review?
§ Mr. MillanI am not quite sure what is the medical evidence to which my hon. Friend refers. If he cares to pass it on to me, I shall of course consider it. In the first instance, it is for the regional hospital board to determine the order of priority in a matter of this sort. There are many projects in the South Eastern Region which it has to consider in making that determination.