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Teaching Hospital, Chelsea

Volume 642: debated on Monday 12 June 1961

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23.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the effect of his proposals for a post-graduate medical school in Chelsea on St. Luke's Hospital and Western Hospital, what provision will be made for the future care of elderly and chronic sick patients in the Fulham, Chelsea, and Kensington neighbourhood.

27.

asked the Minister of Health which existing postgraduate medical schools will be incorporated into the proposed new postgraduate teaching hospital in Chelsea; how many beds it will contain; if he will define the site of the buildings to be erected; what are his intentions regarding the sites which this plan will make redundant; and if he will make a statement.

I would ask the hon. Members to await a full statement on this matter which I intend to make shortly.

Does the Minister remember that I wrote to him some weeks ago about this matter? I received no reply until I tabled a Question, when a reply came saying that I would like to see a copy of a letter he had sent to certain other hon. Members, but in fact he omitted to enclose such a copy? [Laughter.] I do not regard this as a laughing matter. Does the Minister realise that there is a great deal of anxiety in Fulham about the shrinking accommodation for chronic and elderly sick patients? We regard this as a very serious matter.

I apologise for the clerical oversight, which I will have put right at the earliest moment. I quite understand the importance of this matter, both generally and locally, and that is why I think it right that a statement should be made at an early moment.

A statement has already been made by the regional board concerned. Can the Minister indicate when "shortly" will be?

Not later than the end of the month, and it might be a little before that.