§ Mr. Lubbockasked the Minister of Health if he will investigate complaints of waste at Farnborough Hospital, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Orpington.
§ Mr. Lubbockasked the Minister of Health how many patients requiring admission to an isolation ward have been treated in other wards at Farnborough Hospital, since the beginning of March 1968; and how many were receiving treatment in other wards at the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. Lubbockasked the Minister of Health what is his policy regarding the supervision of hospital wards by trained nurses at night; and in what respects 51W Farnborough Hospital does not conform with the policy.
§ Mr. SnowAll hospital wards should be supervised by trained staff at night, wards being grouped for this purpose as may be appropriate. The arrangements at Farnborough conform with this policy.
§ Mr. Lubbockasked the Minister of Health if he will give details of nursing staff shortages at Farnborough Hospital and the steps being taken to recruit nurses to fill the vacancies.
§ Mr. SnowIt is accepted that the present number of nursing staff at Farnborough Hospital is insufficient, and the nursing establishment is under review. All the usual methods of recruitment for full and part-time service are being employed, and in addition a special television feature was recently made about the isolation unit to encourage recruitment.
§ Mr. Lubbockasked the Minister of Health if he will reconsider the case of a former employee of Farnborough Hospital who complained that mistakes had been made in her National Insurance contributions, in the light of the many other complaints of errors in the wages department, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Orpington.
§ Mr. SnowI have nothing to add to what the Joint Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Social Security has said in correspondence with the hon. Member on the case in question.
§ Mr. Lubbockasked the Minister of Health what advice he has given to regional hospital boards concerning the discipline of nursing staff; whether he is satisfied that this advice is being observed at Farnborough Hospital; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SnowMy right hon. Friend asked hospital authorities in 1967 to review restrictions in Nurses Homes and consider whether they were still necessary; the National Board for Prices and Incomes endorsed the need for such a review and he has recently given his view that restrictions should be kept to the minimum necessary. I am not aware of any exceptional restrictions at this hospital.
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§ Mr. Lubbockasked the Minister of Health what was the cost of the new isolation ward at Farnborough Hospital; when it was completed; and why it has not yet been opened.
§ Mr. Snow£98,000; 30th June, 1968; because sufficient trained nursing staff are not yet available.