HC Deb 10 March 1978 vol 945 cc807-8W
Mr. Evelyn King

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the light of the fact that administrative officials in some parts of England, but noticeably in Dulwich where approaches were made to the Health Service correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, have sought to prevent the reporting of hospital breakdowns; if he will discourage any attempts to silence the Press.

Mr. Moyle

Advice was given to health authorities in May 1974 in Health Service Circular HSC(IS)194 on handling inquiries from the Press. Staff in the National Health Service are well aware of the importance that my right hon. Friend and I attach to good relations with the Press, radio and television, and we certainly would discourage any attempt to silence the media.

Mr. Evelyn King

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the light of decaying morale and staff breakdowns in big hospitals where the value of their expensive equipment can be negatived, he will now encourage the retention of smaller hospitals more easily able to cope with such problems.

Mr. Moyle

My Department's strategy for hospital services comprises a mixture of district general hospitals, providing a full range of specialist treatment for the population of the districts they serve, and smaller hospitals functioning as community hospitals, for patients not requiring the full specialist facilities of a district general hospital. I do not accept that staff morale in district general hospitals is poor. In an organisation as diverse and as labour-intensive as the National Health Service, there will be instances where industrial relations could he improved, but I do not believe these difficulties to be directly related to the size of hospitals.