HC Deb 12 November 1969 vol 791 cc91-2W
Mr. Malcolm MacMillan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will take the initiative in establishing a health centre in Hamilton, with a view to co-ordinating the work of the general practitioners, improving efficiency and creating the best possible service to patients;

(2) if he will take the initiative in establishing a health centre in Stornoway, for the purpose of co-ordinating the work of the general practitioners and enabling them to provide maximum efficiency and personal service to patients while reducing the present strain and demands on the physical and other resources of the doctors.

Mr. Ross

No. As the provision of a health centre depends on co-operation between the general practitioners and the local health and hospital authorities, I prefer the initiative to come from the local bodies. I welcome new proposals, but they have to be fitted into the existing programme, which is already a large one.