HL Deb 04 March 1965 vol 263 cc1264-7
THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they consider that the present conditions in the operating theatres at the Charing Cross Hospital are satisfactory.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS AND FOR THE COLONIES (LORD TAYLOR)

My Lords, there are five operating theatres in this hospital. Two of these form the main theatre suite, which is about sixty years old; there are relatively modern theatres for ear, nose and throat work and minor orthopædic surgery, and an old casualty theatre.

The main theatre suite is now undergoing limited reconstruction, to enable it to be used for as long as the hospital remains on its present site. This work is being done in two phases, and it had been hoped to keep one theatre in full use while the other was being dealt with. Bacteriological tests have shown that it was wiser to close both theatres, so far as major surgery was concerned, and this has been done.

It is hoped that the reconstruction will be completed in about nine weeks. The alterations will provide a new five-bedded recovery room, improved surgeons' and nurses' changing rooms and improved sterilising facilities.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord very much for his full reply, may I ask whether he is aware of the deep concern felt over the lack of progress in the building of the new hospital at Fulham? Will the noble Lord undertake to urge the Ministry to complete this project with the utmost energy and zeal.

LORD TAYLOR

My Lords, the delay in building the new hospital at Fulham is, I believe, about eight years—seven and three-quarters of which were not our responsibility but a responsibility of the late Government. It is hoped that the preliminary site works for the main development at Fulham will start in the summer of next year, and to begin phase one proper in 1967; but these works depend on the completion of successful planning.

LORD HENDERSON

My Lords, is it not true that the delay in the reconstruction of some hospitals was due to the heavy expenditure of both finance and labour on the building of offices?

LORD TAYLOR

My Lords, it is, of course, perfectly true that many offices were rebuilt during the past eight years when many hospitals needed to be reconstructed and that if labour and material were used for one they could not be used for the other.

LORD BRECON

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord when he thinks they will open the first hospital which was initiated by the present Government?

LORD TAYLOR

My Lords, I am afraid that I cannot give an answer to that question, for the simple reason that planning a hospital takes at least from eighteen months to two years.

LORD WADE

My Lords, in view of the widespread concern that has been expressed regarding several hospitals, are the Government prepared to undertake a survey of hospitals in the London area which come under the National Health Service, with particular reference to conditions in operating theatres? May I ask whether such a survey could also cover fire hazards, because I understand that there is a serious fire hazard in the pathology department of the Royal Free Hospital?

LORD TAYLOR

My Lords, I am sorry, but I feel that it would be wrong for me to answer questions about other hospitals than the one mentioned on the Order Paper. With regard to a general survey, conditions in all the operating theatres throughout the London area are well known to the Regional Hospital Boards and the boards of governors of teaching hospitals. Many of them are old theatres. They are the legacy of many years of neglect before the introduction of the National Health Service, due to impoverishment and, I fear, a failure to reconstruct during the past twelve years.

LORD INGLEWOOD

My Lords, could the noble Lord say whether the large building round the corner in Marsham Street, with the great board up, saying that it is being constructed on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, is to be offices or a hospital?

LORD TAYLOR

My Lords, I am afraid that I must have notice of that question.

VISCOUNT DILHORNE

My Lords, the noble Lord does not seem to require notice when he answers the noble Lord Lord Henderson, about offices. Cannot he answer the question put by my noble friend?

LORD TAYLOR

My Lords, I am perfectly prepared to try to answer a general question, but if I am asked a specific question about a specific site, I really must have notice if I am to give an adequate answer.

VISCOUNT ADDISON

My Lords, can my noble friend say whether the alterations which have been and are being carried out at Charing Cross Hospital operating suite have been designed and approved by the Medical Committee, on which, I am told, surgeons are represented?

LORD TAYLOR

Yes, my Lords; they have.

LORD LEATHERLAND

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that the Charing Cross Hospital is only one of many hospitals about which similar complaints have been made recently; that during recent years hospital management committees have had their estimates trimmed, with the result that many essential works of maintenance have been neglected; and will he have a further look at this aspect of the matter in future?

LORD TAYLOR

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Minister of Health is, in fact, considering this very problem at the present time.

LORD BRECON

My Lords, the noble Lord said that it would take from eighteen months to two years to prepare a plan for a new hospital. Are we to understand that this Government will start opening new hospitals in some two years from now?

LORD TAYLOR

My Lords, the opening of phases of new hospitals will occur as they are completed. Some are now under construction, and the process is a continuing one. With regard to the time of from eighteen months to two years, may I say that that is an optimistic assessment, even if one has experience in dealing with quantity surveyors and architects.

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, in view of some of the earlier remarks of the noble Lord, can he say how many hospitals are now under construction?

LORD TAYLOR

My Lords, I am afraid that I must have notice of that point. I cannot deal with every general question that is asked.

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, I agree with the noble Lord; but he raised this question in a general way.