§ Mr. Perkinsasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the management committee of the Cotswold Maternity Home, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, have decided to close the hospital owing to the shortage of staff, with the result that 16 maternity beds will be lost to the area and 38 patients who were due to go to this hospital during December and January will have to go to Cheltenham; what steps he has taken to prevent the closing of this hospital; and whether, in view of the industrial activity in the Stroud valleys, he will reconsider his refusal to allow a new maternity hospital to be opened near Stroud.
§ Mr. WillinkI was not previously aware that the maternity home to which my hon. Friend refers was closing down. I am having urgent inquiries made in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service. In reply to the last part of the Question, I think it better to secure the use of existing accommodation by providing necessary staff than to provide additional accommodation in which similar staffing difficulties would have to be met.