§ 49. Mr. Porrittasked the Minister of Health what weekly hours of duty are expected from the nurses in the mental hospitals in the county of Lancaster, and the proportion of nurses to patients?
§ Mr. ElliotThe hours of duty are 52 hours a week exclusive of mealtimes. The proportion of nurses to patients is, approximately, one nurse to 11 patients by day and one nurse to 56 patients by night.
§ Mr. PorrittIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is a great shortage of nurses in medical institutions and that the proportion of nurses to patients should be one in six?
§ Mr. ElliotThere is a shortage in many cases.
§ 50. Mr. Porrittasked the Minister of Health the number of patients in the mental hospitals of the county of 3295 Lancaster; what plans have been made to increase accommodation and abate overcrowding; and the estimated cost of building schemes approved by the local authority and the board of control?
§ Mr. ElliotThe number of patients in the Lancashire mental hospitals on 1st January last was 14,339. Proposals have been approved to increase the accommodation at four of the mental hospitals by 965 beds, and other proposals are under consideration for adding a further 300 beds. Plans are also being prepared for a new mental hospital of 1,000 beds. The estimated cost of the proposals for which the plans have been approved (amounting to 790 beds) is £258,108.
§ Mr. PorrittIs my right hon. Friend satisfied that similar progress is contemplated in other parts of the country?