56. Air Commodore Harveyasked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the shortage of accommodation in the hospitals in Macclesfield and Congleton; and if he will take steps to have more adequate accommodation provided.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Miss Patricia Hornsby-Smith)My right hon. Friend is informed that the difficulties experienced in this area are due to shortage of nursing staff rather than to lack of accommodation, and that the hospital management committee is making every effort to recruit additional staff and bring closed beds into use.
Air Commodore HarveyWill my hon. Friend say what efforts are being made, because at the moment many patients from Macclesfield and Congleton have to go to hospitals at Stockport and Manchester, and this bears very hard on families who have to pay travelling expenses to visit them? Will my hon. Friend look into the position and tell us what is being done?
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithEvery effort is being made to recruit additional staff, but at present, of the 514 beds, 69 are not available because of nursing shortage. it is hoped to open 12 of these in April as a result of recruitment. Every effort is being made to try to step up recruitment in this area.