§ Mr. Ellis Smith110, 111 and 112. asked the Minister of Health (1) what new hospital buildings, extensions, renovations and modernisation it is intended to carry out in north Staffordshire to cater for the needs of, and the proposed increase in, the mining population; and if he will give an assurance that the percentage grant allowed to this area is fully proportionate to that allowed to other similar areas;
(2) if plans have yet been prepared for the urgently required accommodation for persons who attend for orthopaedic treatment at the North Staffordshire Infirmary; on what date it is intended to start building; and when the accommodation will be ready;
(3) if he is satisfied with the hospital accommodation, service and food provided in north Staffordshire; what, improvements have been introduced since he received the report on the investigation; and what further action it is intended to take.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodI am aware that the casualty accommodation here is inadequate. The regional hospital board has plans for new casualty and out-patient departments and an accident unit at the Royal Infirmary, but work is unlikely to be started in the next year or two. Priority is awarded to schemes according to urgency and there is no separate allocation to individual localities.
I do not know to which report the hon. Member is referring, and neither the board nor I have had any recent complaints about the service in hospitals in this area or of the food provided.