§ 23. Mr. Attewellasked the Minister of Health if he has considered the shortage of nursing staff at the Leicestershire P.A.C. infirmaries and the declaration by the coroner at an inquiry on the death of a person unable to obtain admission to the infirmary that this was the third similar case on which he had conducted an inquiry; and what action he proposes to take to overcome this nursing shortage in the immediate future.
§ Mr. KeyYes, Sir. My right hon. Friend is aware that, owing to the shortage of nursing staff, public assistance institutions in Leicestershire are not able at present to admit all the cases needing nursing care, and his attention has been called to a distressing case of this kind at Market Harborough. The Minister of Labour and my right hon. Friend are doing all that is possible to help by publicity and otherwise. Salary scales have been much improved, and a code of working conditions laid down. The setting up of more assistant nurse training schools is 552 being actively encouraged. But the situation is difficult, particular in hospitals for the chronic sick.