§ Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he is aware that more than 700 babies were born at East Kilbride in the past year, and that this is a growing new town with a high proportion of young married couples; and whether he will again consider the possibility of the nearby Hairmyres Hospital having a maternity wing;
(2) what is the average number of babies born each year in Scotland as a whole, and in Glasgow, Hamilton, Lanark, and East Kilbride, respectively; and how long he expects East Kilbride to remain without adjacent maternity hospital facilities.
§ Mr. Nixon BrowneThere are now on the average about 100,000 births a year in Scotland. The number occurring in Glasgow has been about 23,000; in Hamilton, about 1,000; in Lanark, about 1,200; and in East Kilbride, about 300; these figures for these areas exclude births taking place in hospitals outside the area, of which there were some 400 related to East Kilbride.
The provision of maternity hospital facilities for East Kilbride is a matter for the Western Regional Hospital Board in the first place. My right hon. Friend understands that the Board consider that 104W the new Bellshill Hospital will afford reasonable provision at least until other more urgent needs in the Region, particularly in Glasgow, can be satisfied.
§ Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many wards of Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride, are not now in full use; and what representations he has received about establishing a maternity ward there for women from the adjacent and growing new town.
§ Mr. Nixon BrowneOne standard ward and one small ward are at present unoccupied. The standard ward is being reconstructed and will be used to accommodate patients from other wards as they in turn are reconstructed. The small ward is likely to be required for general hospital purposes. My right hon. Friend has not received any representations about the provision of maternity facilities at Hairmyres Hospital other than those by the hon. Member.