§ Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimated number of patient beds he intends to approve in the new general hospital to be built at Airdrie; what medical units will be provided; and if he will authorise ophthalmic and mental health units to be included in the new building.
§ Mr. RossThe regional hospital board proposes to provide about 600 in-patient beds in the District General Hospital at Airdrie, covering the following departments:
- General Medicine.
- General Surgery.
- Orthopaedics.
- Gynaecology.
- Ear and Nose and Throat.
- Paediatrics.
- Dermatology.
- Accident and Emergency.
- Geriatric Assessment.
- Infectious Diseases /Isolation.
- General Practitioner Maternity Unit.
- Acute Psychiatry Unit.
Out-patient ophthalmic services will be provided but it is not intended to provide 256W an in-patient ophthalmic unit, as the unit proposed for the District Hospital at Motherwell, which is the larger centre, will be able to serve the combined population.