HC Deb 21 June 1971 vol 819 cc199-200W
Mr. Mudd

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many and which of the hospitals within the area served by the West Cornwall Hospital Management Committee date back to the outbreak of the Boer War, and how many, and which, date back to the Crimean War; and what replacement programme has been planned.

Mr. Alison

Budock Hospital, Falmouth, Barncoose Hospital, Redruth, St. Clement's Hospital, Truro and the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro date back to the Crimean War. Camborne-Redruth Hospital, Fowey and District Hospital, Perranporth Hospital, Meneage Hospital, Helston, and the Bolitho Maternity Home, Penzance, date back to the Boer War. The buildings do not all date back similarly; some are relatively modern. The South Western Regional Hospital Board plans considerable further development in the area, including a third phase of building at the main hospital centre—the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, but at this stage it is not possible to forecast in detail the effect of this development on the present facilities.

Mr. Mudd

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many beds and in which respective general, maternity and geriatric hospitals in the area served by the West Cornwall Hospital Management Committee are permanently and temporarily, respectively, out of use due to staff shortages.

Mr. Alison

None.

Mr. Mudd

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total staff shortage, shown in categories, in general, maternity and geriatric hospitals, respectively, in the area served by the West Cornwall Hospital Management Committee; and in which hospitals do those shortages occur.

Mr. Alison

There is no chronic staff shortage in the area; temporary vacancies, spread over the 21 hospitals in the group, at present exist for 8 nurses, 7 mid-wives and 6 therapists.