§ 49. Dr. Broughtonasked the Minister of Health how many nurses are needed to meet the normal requirements in the hospitals under the management of the Dewsbury, Batley and Mirfield Hospital Management Committee.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithThe Regional Board estimates the total necessary establishment to be 435, of which there is an estimated shortage of about 70.
§ Dr. BroughtonIs the hon. Lady not aware that the shortage of trained nurses in our hospitals is a national problem, demanding immediate attention by her right hon. Friend? Will not she and her right hon. Friend look again at the report of the Working Party on the Recruitment and Training of Nurses, published in 1947, paying special regard to the proposal for a two-year basic training period for all nurses?
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithAll these matters have to be considered by the General Nursing Council. There is currently under way a nursing recruiting campaign, and we are always endeavouring to obtain more nurses, but the nursing profession, like all the others, is competing for a limited number of hands.