In fairness to my hon. Friend the Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Lagden), I should point out that the hospital is in his constituency. I understand that he visits it frequently and is aware of the conditions there. He knows, I know, and the hon. Member for Barking (Mr. Driberg) knows, that in the past the conditions at the hospital have been difficult, not because of the quality of the staff but because of the layout of the hospital.

I must say that continuing adverse publicity makes it extremely difficult to recruit staff locally for a hospital of this kind. It is a very pleasant hospital in many ways, and I hope that now that recruiting has taken an upward turn and the services of the geriatrician have been secured we shall see great improvements.