HC Deb 02 March 1983 vol 38 cc229-30
5. Mr. Ron Brown (Leith)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will increase the resources available to Lothian health board in order to maintain hospital standards.

Mr. MacKay

My right hon. Friend announced on 15 December that additional resources would be provided in 1983–84 for the improvement of hospital and community health services. Lothian health board will obtain a share of these resources, as determined by the Scottish health services allocation of resources redistribution formula. I shall inform boards soon of their financial allocations for next year.

Mr. Brown

Does the Minister accept that his financial straitjacket is creating particular problems for the Lothian health board? I refer specifically to Leith hospital, the future of which is in doubt. Does he appreciate that there is talk about restricting the hours of the accident and emergency service, which is important to the people of Leith? Above all, does he not understand that he can save not only money but lives, which is more important?

Mr. MacKay

The hon. Gentleman should bear in mind that the Government have increased the resources to the Health Service in Scotland, and in fact to the Lothian health board.

There are two large hospitals within three miles of Leith providing full-scale accident and emergency services. The residents of Leith are better served than the residents of many other parts of Edinburgh. I suggest that the hon. Gentleman should look at it from that point of view and in the light of the resources available to the health board to man a 24-hour accident and emergency service.

Mr. Ancram

Since the children's hospital in Edinburgh is likely to remain for some time at its present site within my constituency, will my hon. Friend assure me that he will review the requirements of that vital hospital to ensure that it can meet the needs of children in the area into the foreseeable future?

Mr. MacKay

I can give my hon. Friend that assurance. The health board is prudently looking at the replacement of this hospital, but at the moment it provides, and will provide for some years, a full and satisfactory service to the children of Edinburgh.

Mr. Harry Ewing

Is the Minister aware that health boards, including the Lothian health board, are complaining bitterly that he is starving them of funds for much needed equipment? Against that background, why did the hon. Gentleman spend the weekend being so offensive to the people in Scotland who are raising money voluntarily to purchase an ultrasonic scalpel, which is needed not only in Dundee but in the Lothian region? Will the hon. Gentleman now take this opportunity to apologise to all those who are taking over the responsibility that he has shed since he became the Minister?

Mr. MacKay

The hon. Gentleman should know, although I cannot expect everything, that the Government have increased resources in real terms to the Health Service in Scotland by about 5 per cent. I hope that the hon. Gentleman, as a former Health Minister, will agree instead of attempting to disagree that when people want to raise money for something in a hospital—I welcome their keenness to do so—they should talk to the board and to the medical staff in the hospital to see what type of machinery and help the medical service wants as a priority.