§ 44. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Health in what areas there is now a shortage of medical practitioners, district nurses and maternity nurses, respectively; and approximately how many serving in each of these categories are of Colonial or Commonwealth origin.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithMy right hon. Friend will send the hon. Member lists of the areas where there are openings for general practitioners or vacancies for home nurses and midwives. No information is available as to the origins of those already in practice.
§ Mr. SorensenCan the hon. Lady say whether there is a decrease or an increase in the shortage? In view of the undoubted value of the colonial nurses, is any effort being made to recriut probationer nurses among the West Indians who are over here?
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithMore and more nurses are coming in from the Colonies, and a very excellent job they are doing. So far as the vacancies are concerned, 1651 perhaps the hon. Gentleman would await the lists. He will find that most of them are in one or two parts of the country. I would rather not go into details until he has seen the lists. Perhaps he may then wish to put down a further Question.