§ Commander Purseyasked the Minister of Health if he will state the number of elected members of the Hull City Council, which is the local health authority, who were appointed members of the original Hull Hospital Management Committee in 1948, and the number of elected representatives nominated by the Hull City Council who are now members of this committee.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI understand that seven members of the Council were appointed to the original Hospital Management Committee. Members of hospital management committees are not nominated by outside bodies, but the present Committee includes one member of the Council and one former member as well as the Medical Officer of Health.
§ Commander Purseyasked the Minister of Health if it is with his authority that regional officers have recommended that chairmen of hospital management committees should take a room used for clinical purposes for their private use and spend up to £500 on structural and decorative alterations and furniture; and in how many hospitals this policy has been carried out.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI am not aware that accommodation for the private use of hospital management committee chairmen has been provided on hospital premises, but I see no reason why a room in a hospital should not be provided for a committee chairman to use for official business. This is within the discretion of hospital authorities and I78W do not know in how many hospitals such provision has been made. I understand that the room made available at the Hull Royal Infirmary to the Chairman of the Hull "A" Hospital Management Committee was not requirel for clinical purposes, and that the cost of adapting and furnishing it was £279.