§ Dr. Segalasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why, in view of the present shortage of hospital accommodation at Bathurst, he intends to proceed with the demolition of the existing Victoria Hospital, instead of retaining it for use as an out-patient centre, and constructing a new hospital on the housing estate in the neighbourhood of the projected new Government House.
Mr. Creech JonesThe existing Victoria Hospital at Bathurst is inadequate and 183W unsatisfactory and must be replaced of reconstructed. The original Gambia development plan proposed the construction of two new hospitals, one on the site of the existing hospital and the other in Kombo to which it is proposed to transfer part of the Bathurst population. The funds available, however, are now insufficient for the building or reconstruction of more than one general hospital. In the Governor's view this hospital should be located in Bathurst itself which will always be the centre of a large population, notwithstanding the proposed transfer.