§ .19. Mr. Turtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what date he proposes to close the Adele Shaw Orthopaedic Hospital, Kirkbymoorside; and whether he is satisfied that alternative facilities will be available by that date.
§ Mr. CrossmanThe hospital will not be closed for in-patients until alternative facilities are available. This will probably be next spring. Facilities for outpatients, including simple X-ray and physiotherapy, will continue.
§ Mr. TurtonIs the Minister aware that recently the senior surgeon at Scarborough complained of serious overcrowding and shortage of staffed beds in hospitals throughout the area? Will he therefore reconsider his decision to close this hospital in the spring, because of the widespread concern about what is regarded as a very precipitate decision?
§ Mr. CrossmanThe right hon. Gentleman should not consider the action precipitate. I gather that all the children about whom we have taken special trouble will be- successfully placed—long-stay child patients by next January, and orthopaedic patients by the end of February—and 14 then there will be a total closure of the in-patient department of the hospital.