HC Deb 12 November 1975 vol 899 cc1515-7
10. Mr. Gordon Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will hold a public inquiry to investigate the construction of Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.

Mr. McElhone

I shall consider the need for any further inquiry when I have completed the review of the outcome of the 1974 arbitration award and related questions which were mentioned in the reply to the hon. Gentleman on 12th February.—[Vol. 886, c. 133.]

Mr. Wilson

Will the Minister say how long the inter-departmental inquiry will take? Does he not realise that the 11- year building period has seen the costs of the hospital rise from £10.5 million to almost £25 million? Is it not a matter for considerable concern that the costing system within the Scottish Office allows such things to happen?

Mr. McElhone

I hope that the hon. Gentleman is not blaming me for that. I have been in my present office for only II weeks—[An HON. MEMBER: "That is enough."] It may well be enough, but I share the hon. Gentleman's concern about this project. The system under review raises complex, difficult, technical and legal questions. Furthermore, the Tayside Health Board does not yet have the final account for the scheme. Nevertheless, I do not intend to allow the Ninewells saga to drift on much longer. I have impressed on my Department and on the Tayside Health Board my determination that conclusions should be reached as a matter of urgency.

11. Mr. Doig

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many beds were available in Dundee for surgical patients in National Health Service hospitals prior to the opening of Ninewells Hospital; and how many are available now.

Mr. McElhone

The number of hospital beds in Dundee in all surgical specialties, other than obstetrics and paediatrics, was 401 on 30th September 1973 and, following the opening of Ninewells Hospital, 404 on 31st March 1975.

Mr. Doig

Is that not a small increase following the completion of a large hospital? We find that we have only three more beds net in the city of Dundee following the building of a hospital the size of Ninewells. Is my hon. Friend further aware that people are being asked to come to the hospital for an operation, are then left to sit about all day, and at night are often sent home again because no beds are available? I could give the Minister a list of such complaints, but I hope that I have given him sufficient information to lead him to realise that there is a need to examine the matter further.

Mr. McElhone

I recognise my hon. Friend's interest in the Ninewells scheme. In April 1976 another 17 surgery beds in the Dundee Royal Infirmary will be brought into operation. I shall take up with the Tayside Health Board the situation at Ninewells and people having to wait around. My hon. Friend will be interested to know that that board's area has 5.26 acute beds per thousand—the highest figure for the whole of Scotland. I have no doubt that this is due in some measure to the persistent and dedicated efforts of my hon. Friend the Member for Dundee, West (Mr. Doig).

Mr. Crawford

Will the Minister ask the Secretary of State for Scotland to reconsider his decision to remove the eye unit from Bridge of Earn to the Ninewells hospital, since practically everybody in Perth is against the move?

Mr. McElhone

I am not aware that everybody in Perth is against the move. I hope that a number of people in Perth will not be against moving the hon. Gentleman at the next election. If he tables a further Question on the matter or writes to me, I shall endeavour to answer him.