§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what instructions he has given to the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board about giving priorities to sub-normal patients: and what replies he has received.
§ Mr. CrossmanI have impressed on all regional hospital boards the need to review priorities in the use of resources within the hospital service to raise the standards in those hospitals, including those for the mentally subnormal, where at present the need is greatest. I have received from the Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board an assurance of the board's intention to give 573W due priority to the needs of these hospitals despite the unusually difficult budgetary problems of this region.
§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many vacancies exist for doctors, nurses and other skilled personnel at sub-normal hospitals in the Birmingham region.
§ Mr. Crossman16 for doctors, 130 for nurses and 10 for other skilled personnel.
§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many extra places for sub-normal patients are needed in the Birmingham region to relieve existing overcrowding; and what steps he is taking to provide them.
§ Mr. CrossmanI am at present considering urgently what minimum standard of accommodation might reasonably be adopted for subnormality hospitals, against which overcrowding can be measured.
§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will visit St. Margaret's Hospital, Great Barr, and other sub-normal hospitals in the Birmingham region.
§ Mr. CrossmanI shall be visiting Coleshill Hall and Chelmsley Hospitals early next month. I have no immediate plans to visit St. Margaret's Hospital, Great Barr.