HL Deb 05 December 1979 vol 403 cc688-90

2.38 p.m.

Lord DAVIES of LEEK

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 can now give an assurance that they have no intention of cutting services available to paraplegics or beds available in Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

Lord CULLEN of ASHBOURNE

My Lords, there will be no further reduction in the number of beds or the level of service. One of the two closed wards is to be re-opened as soon as possible; the other will be reserved for the use of patients with spinal injuries.

Lord DAVIES of LEEK

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. Whatever attitude we may have on either side of the House to Stoke Mandeville, may I ask whether the noble Lord is aware that all of us, whatever our politics, would express our appreciation of Sir Ludwig Guttmann's work with these people over many years for the benefit of mankind? Having said that, may I ask the Minister whether "no further" cuts means that there have been some cuts? Will the Government see that the utmost is done to allow this place to develop? I—and others—had to visit this place during a period in a junior ministerial job.

Lord CULLEN of ASHBOURNE

My Lords, I think that the House knows that my right honourable friend the Minister of Health went to Stoke Mandeville on 20th November, and that this is when the decision was taken that one of these wards would be re-opened as soon as possible, and there is no prospect of further cuts.

Baroness MASHAM of ILTON

My Lords, could the noble Lord assure the House that there will be adequate funds to employ sufficient nurses to staff the wards? Could he say when staff recruitment for nurses will take place, so that the ward promised to be re-opened by the Minister will be able to do so?

Lord CULLEN of ASHBOURNE

My Lords, I should very much like to be able to answer the noble Baroness, but I am afraid that I cannot because it is only a very short time after the Minister of Health was down there. The recruiting is going to start as soon as possible. I very much regret that I cannot say that it is going to be next Wednesday, or whatever.

Baroness VICKERS

My Lords, in view of the fact that the structure of the various buildings is not very good, may I ask my noble friend whether any money is going to be spent, for example, on repairing roofs and other necessary work?

Lord CULLEN of ASHBOURNE

My Lords, the plan is to make a major appeal for the rebuilding of the spinal injuries centre. There are plans already for the building to be rebuilt in the latter part of the 1980s. But the idea of this major appeal is to accelerate this as much as possible.

Lord JANNER

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he is aware that this particular institute is highly respected not only in this country but throughout the world? Is he further aware that it has afforded an example to other places throughout the world, and that any attempt to reduce its activities would be regarded as being quite contrary to general opinion throughout the world? In those circumstances, will he see to it that the ward to which he referred will be restored as quickly as possible?

Lord CULLEN of ASHBOURNE

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, and I entirely agree with every word that he said.

Lord CRAWSHAW

My Lords, would my noble friend agree that there might be a strong case for making Stoke Mandeville a supra-regional hospital funded directly by the DHSS? Might the fact that his right honourable friend the Minister of Health went down to see the situation for himself—an action which I warmly applaud—indicate that this is in fact in the Government's mind?

Lord CULLEN of ASHBOURNE

My Lords, what I can say to the noble Lord is that the problems of the NSIC are going to be identified, with a view to protecting allocations reflecting the true costs of running the centre.

Lord SEGAL

My Lords, may I ask the Minister to encourage his honourable friend to visit as many hospitals as possible so that immediate action can be taken on the spot?

Several noble Lords: Answer!

Lord CULLEN of ASHBOURNE

My Lords, I am sure that my right honourable friend and my honourable friend the Minister of Health are anxious to keep open every hospital, whether large or small.