HC Deb 11 May 1950 vol 475 cc559-61
15. Mr. Awbery

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of patients now waiting in the south-west region for admittance to tuberculosis hospitals; what beds are now vacant; and what is the reason.

Mr. Bevan

On 31st March last, the latest date for which figures are available, 638 patients were waiting for admission and 175 beds were vacant mainly owing to lack of nurses.

Mr. Awbery

Is my right hon. Friend taking any steps to increase the number of nurses and to provide further accommodation in this area? Will he consider taking some of the large mansions, now occupied by a few people, for the purpose of treating these invalids?

Mr. Bevan

I should not be able to do any more by taking mansions which are unstaffed when I already have unstaffed wards in sanatoria. In reply to the first part of the supplementary question, as my hon. Friend knows, we very greatly increased the number of nurses last year and recruiting is still continuing.

Mr. Somerville Hastings

Has my right hon. Friend given careful consideration to the diverting of beds in general hospitals to the use of tuberculosis patients?

Mr. Bevan

That is being done on a very large and increasing scale.

Mrs. Braddock

Will my right hon. Friend agree that the fact that tuberculosis is not considered to be an industrial injury is a reason why nurses will not take training in the treatment of tuberculosis cases in hospitals?

Mr. Bevan

As my hon. Friend knows, we are now carrying out very important experiments with a view to providing a measure of immunisation for nurses against tuberculosis, and I hope that when the experiments are complete the fear will be removed.

Miss Horsbrugh

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that, taking the records, there is as much tuberculosis among nurses and such people in general hospitals as there is in sanatoria?

Mr. Bevan

No, Sir. I do not think that is so.

16. Mr. Awbery

asked the Minister of Health how many nurses have been recruited in the south-western region for training for tuberculosis nursing during the past five years.

Mr. Bevan

I regret that information in this particular form is not available.

Mr. Awbery

Will my right hon. Friend take steps to give further encouragement to young women who desire to enter this profession by providing them with better amenities and facilities for recreation, etc.?

Mr. Bevan

I think the House will agree that we have enormously improved the conditions and the rates of remuneration of nurses in the last three or four years.

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