HC Deb 12 November 1971 vol 825 cc279-80W
Mr. Kinnock

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the maximum distance considered acceptable for patients to travel in order to receive residential treatment from general medicine, paediatric, general surgery, ear, nose and throat, traumatic and orthopaedic, radiotherapy, gynaecology, and obstetric specialities.

Mr. Alison:

This must vary with circumstances such as transport facilities and the distribution of the population. The siting of each hospital must be deter- mined on the individual merits of the case. As my right hon. Friend indicated in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Conway (Mr. Wyn Roberts) on 9th November, 1971, current operational research studies will include consideration of the possible cost of access to hospitals for patients, visitors and staff in terms of money, time and social hardship.—[Vol. 825, c. 108-9.]