§ Dr. D. Johnsonasked the Minister of Health (1) if he will make a statement on his future plans for the ward now being used as the children's ward of the City General Hospital, Carlisle; in view of the official proposal that it should be used for the chronic sick and elderly, how many patients it will accommodate; and how many staff he estimates will be needed to look after them;
(2) how many patients the children's ward of the City General Hospital, Carlisle, contained on 31st March, 1958; how many of these patients were from the City of Carlisle; and how many were from the County of Cumberland and other areas;
110W(3) for how long the children's orthopaedic ward at the City General Hospital, Carlisle, has been used for this purpose; how many patients it contained on 31st December of each year it has been in use; and how many staff have been employed to look after these patients;
(4) his intention in regard to the hospital treatment of children in Carlisle within the orthopaedic speciality; and what he estimates the average number of children needing such treatment will be at any one time among the child population of the City of Carlisle;
(5) his future plans for the children now accommodated in the children's ward of the City General Hospital, Carlisle.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithThe use of this accommodation is in the first instance a matter for the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board. I am communicating with it and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as I am in a position to answer his Questions.