§ Mr. Martenasked the Minister of Health what progress is being made in the Oxford region with the provision of hospital accommodation for mentally subnormal children; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SnowHospital accommodation for the mentally subnormal is not normally designated separately for children and for adults. The Oxford Regional Hospital Board propose to provide 20 extra beds at Rushden Hospital, Northants, by change of use and 126 extra beds at Borocourt Hospital, near Reading, in new accommodation for mentally subnormal patients this year. Negotiations have reached an advanced stage for leasing Burderop Hospital, near Swindon, part of which will provide an extra 20028W beds. Some of these beds will be used to relieve overcrowding at other neighbouring hospitals for the mentally subnormal.
Work will start this summer on the first phase of a new hospital at Upton, near Northampton, to provide 140 extra beds for subnormal children. The first phase of the redevelopment of Manor House, Aylesbury, which will provide a further 36 beds, is expected to start in 1968–69.