HC Deb 06 February 1991 vol 185 cc271-2
6. Mr. Knox

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) in-patients and (b) out-patients were treated in national health service hospitals in Scotland in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what the figures were in 1979.

The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Mr. Michael Forsyth)

The number of out-patient attendances and in-patients treated has increased by a staggering 900,000 a year compared with 1979.

Mr. Knox

Does my hon. Friend agree that those figures above all others show the improvement in the national health service in Scotland since 1979, because they concern patients—human beings who have been treated?

Mr. Forsyth

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Not only are we treating almost a million more patients but we have increased the number of doctors by about 9 per cent. and the number of nurses by 14 per cent.; and expenditure has risen from £1 billion to more than £3 billion, which represents an increase of a third, over and above prices. That is the extent of the Government's commitment to the national health service.

Mr. Wray

As 40 per cent. of Scottish troops are in the front line and as it is estimated that we shall need 7,500 beds for them, and as thousands of people have given blood since that announcement, how does the Minister differentiate between blood for the Gulf troops and blood to be sold to the private sector?

Mr. Forsyth

As one who has given blood as part of the appeal by the blood transfusion service—[Interruption.]

Mr. Speaker

Order.

Mr. Forsyth

I do not think that this should be a matter of controversy between us. I urge others to register as donors, if they have not already done so as part of the blood transfusion service appeal. The majority of blood donors will take the same view as I do—that blood is freely given to save lives wherever those lives are being saved.

Mr. Riddick

I start by congratulating my hon. Friend —[Interruption.]

Mr. Speaker

Order. This is Question Time.

Mr. Riddick

May I congratulate my hon. Friend and all his colleagues on the excellent opinion poll in yesterday's newspapers which showed that the Conservative party—[Interruption.]

Mr. Speaker

Order. This is Scottish Question Time.

Mr. Riddick

May I suggest to my hon. Friend that one of the reasons for the excellent showing in the opinion polls in Scotland is the Government's increasing investment in the national health service there? Does he agree that the surest way of ensuring greater patient care and more investment in Scottish hospitals is the re-election of a Conservative Government at the next general election?

Mr. Forsyth

Surprising as it might seem, my hon. Friend was referring to an opinion poll in Scotland. It is certainly good news. I have no doubt that there are various reasons for it, but the sort of behaviour that we are witnessing today among Opposition Members, who are trying to frustrate our telling the good news about the health service, is doubtless a contributory factor.