§ 41. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Health the approximate shortage of nursing staff and student nurses in hospitals serving metropolitan Essex; and how many beds are not being used because of this shortage.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithThe shortage of all grades of nursing staff, including student nurses, is estimated at approximately 400; about 90 beds are out of use for lack of staff.
§ Mr. SorensenDoes this not seem to indicate quite clearly that an effort should be made to secure some of the nurses and student nurses from the relatively overstaffed training hospitals in London? What is the hon. Lady doing about it?
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithWe are negotiating with the General Nursing Council in an endeavour to bring about a scheme of seconding nurses from the general side to the mental side. I hope that the pilot scheme which has been suggested will produce results in this direction.