§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many National Health hospitals are vested in his care in Scotland; how many of these consist wholly or mainly of open wards containing over 30 beds and how many consist of mainly wooden huts.
§ Mr. William RossOf the 353 national health hospitals in Scotland, six consist mainly of wooden huts. The other information required is not held centrally.
§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the statement by the Minister of State on 9th April 1974 (Official Report, c. 398) that planning for a hospital is normally expected to take something like three years, is still the policy of his Department.
§ Mr. William RossMy right hon. Friend's remark, which was made in the context of an Adjournment debate on development generally in the Borders, was not intended to be a statement of policy;62W and he made it clear that there could be no formal commitment to a timetable for a particular scheme. The time required to plan a hospital project depends upon the size and content of the development as well as factors such as site constraints, the availability of experienced staff, and design problems in producing a solution which is acceptable in terms both of function and of cost.
§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many district general hospitals are vested in his care in Scotland; and how many of these lack rooms suitable for intensive care procedures.
§ Mr. William RossThere are at present 32 general acute hospitals in Scotland with more than 200 beds; 11 do not have intensive care facilities because they are located close to hospitals which do have them. Concentration of the highly trained medical and nursing staff and the special equipment is necessary to ensure that resources are used to best advantage. One other hospital—Peel—does not have a separate intensive care unit but has the facilities for handling most clinical situations requiring resuscitation and intensive care.
§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when his Department's attention was last drawn to the inadequacy of electric power points at Peel Hospital, Galashiels, to take modern equipment.
§ Mr. William RossMy Department has been aware for some time that the standard of electrical services at this hospital is below average, but I understand that this does not limit the use of modern equipment. A new transformer has recently been installed to reinforce the existing supply.