Mr. MACLEANasked the Minister of Pensions (1) when the present lease of Bellahouston Hospital, Glasgow, at present leased by his Department, expires; and what steps have been taken to provide alternative accommodation within the City of Glasgow for ex-service patients still requiring treatment for War disabilities;
1880W(2) if it is the intention of his Department to use the Princess Louise Scottish Hospital for limbless sailors, soldiers, and airmen for other ex-service patients when the lease of Bellahouston Hospital expires; and whether he is aware that Erskine House and grounds were bought by subscriptions for a definite purpose and that its situation makes it inconvenient for ex-servicemen suffering from War disabilities at present treated at Bellahouston Hospital?
§ Mr. F. O. ROBERTSThe premises and site of Bellahouston Hospital are not held on lease but by agreement with the Scottish Red Cross and the Corporation of the City of Glasgow. As I stated in my answer to the hon. Member for Camlachie (Mr. Stephen) on 10th November, I do not consider that present requirements justify continuance of the hospital beyond January next. I have arranged with the committee of Erskine House, as I stated on the same occasion, to increase the number of Ministry patients treated at Erskine House, while providing for any outpatients at the Ministry clinic in Sauchiehall Street and for cases requiring urgent medical or surgical treatment, at the Royal Infirmary. These arrangements in no way prejudice the interests of limbless men or the purpose for which Erskine House was founded, they merely extend the constant practice of the last 11 years and are in entire concurrence with repeated representations made to my predecessor and myself in favour of increasing the number of patients treated there. During the many years use of the hospital no complaints have been received that the hospital is difficult of access, nor have I any grounds for thinking that such complaint would be well founded.