§ Dr. A. Thompsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital has 136 beds to deal with a population of 156,000 people, and that more patients are allocated per bed in West Fife than anywhere else in Scotland; and what steps he intends to take to improve this position.
§ Mr. MaclayThe West Fife Hospitals Board of Management controls 594 hospital beds of which 244 are acute beds. 49W The people of West Fife also make use of Bridge of Earn Hospital and hospitals in Edinburgh. The pressure on the beds in the Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital will be relieved to some extent when the second extension to the Kirkcaldy Hospital is completed.
§ Dr. A. Thompsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that 1,000 men, women and children are awaiting admission to the Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital; and whether he will announce plans to expand hospital accommodation.
§ Mr. MaclayThe present waiting list is not a good indication of long-term need. The recent appointment of an additional consultant will help to deal with the 500 persons awaiting ear, nose or throat operations, many of them minor, while the major extension to the Victoria Hospital at Kirkcaldy will, when completed, help to relieve the pressure on surgical beds.
§ Dr. A. Thompsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will take action to improve the physiotherapy department of the Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital;
(2) what plans he has for providing a new central department for drugs and dressings instead of leaving the Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital dependent on another hospital for its pharmacy.
§ Mr. MaclayThe Regional Hospital Board are at present unable to undertake either of the developments to which the hon. Member refers. They take the view that other improvements within the Region are more urgent, and must take priority.
§ Dr. A. Thompsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make plans for a new modern general hospital for Dunfermline and West Fife, to be started as soon as possible.
§ Mr. MaclayI am afraid there is no prospect of a start being made on such a project in the near future. The expansion of general hospital accommodation in the Dunfermline area will have to yield priority to more pressing needs elsewhere in the County of Fife and in the region.