§ Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many beds have still to be brought into use in the Monklands general hospital, including the general practitioner beds which were allowed for at the planning stage; what is the reason for the delay; and when the hospital is to become fully operational.
§ Mr. FairgrieveThe number of beds not yet in use is 83 out of the total bed complement of 590. The complement includes 12 general practitioner beds. These are at present used not as general practitioner beds but as temporary medical beds due to the high level of demand for such beds. The delay in bringing all beds into use is due in part to financial circumstances and in part to difficulty in recruiting trained staff. The Lanarkshire health board plans to bring the hospital into full use as soon as finance and staff numbers permit.