§ 19. Mr. Gourlayasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement)n the programme for the provision of geriatric beds at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy.
§ Mr. Harry EwingThe Fife Health Board proposes to provide 60 geriatric 450 and 90 psycho-geriatric beds in a new building on a site at Whyteman's Brae, Kirkcaldy, adjacent to the Victoria Hospital. Oncosts associated with the difficult nature of the site are at present unacceptably high, and the building division of the Common Services Agency, acting on behalf of the Fife Health Board, is urgently examining means of reducing these oncosts to an acceptable level.
§ Mr. GourlayWill my hon. Friend accept that there is a considerable degree of urgency for this project to be started as soon as possible? Recently, a friend of mine was discharged from the geriatric unit in the Victoria Hospital to live by himself. Two weeks later, he was found dead in bed. This was one of many instances of people not getting proper treatment in geriatric wards. I plead with my hon. Friend to make sure that this new extension of the Victoria Hospital is started as soon as possible.
§ Mr. EwingI accept fully the urgent need for the facilities described. On the subject of the on-cost of over £1 million —the figure with which we started and which we are desperately trying to keep down—I have had early meetings with my officials and I assure my hon. Friend that I shall push on with the matter as quickly as possible.