§ Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Board of Management of the Coatbridge, 161W Airdrie and District Hospitals are willing to provide a general practitioners' ward at Hairmyres Hospital in view of the rapidly growing needs of the new town of East Kilbride nearby.
§ Mr. MaclayI am informed that the hospital authorities are not aware of any need or demand for facilities for general practitioners to treat their patients in Hairmyres Hospital. If the hon. Member has in mind maternity patients in particular, I must refer him to my reply to his Question on this subject on 21st January.
§ Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that Bellshill Maternity Hospital, when completed, will be considerably less accessible to patients and visitors from East Kilbride than Hairmyres; and whether he will review the decision of the Coatbridge, Airdrie and District Hospitals Management Board not to provide a maternity ward at Hairmyres.
§ Mr. MaclayI am aware that Bells-hill is less accessible to East Kilbride than Hairmyres: this consideration was taken into account by the Regional Hospital Board when it decided not to provide a maternity ward at Hairmyres and would not justify me inviting the Regional Board to review its decision.