HC Deb 12 March 1956 vol 550 cc2-4
4. Mrs. Castle

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to state what action he proposes to take to improve working conditions in mental and mental deficiency hospitals in Lancashire following his recent visit.

Mr. Turton

I had already made additions to the capital allocation of this Regional Board of £50,000 for 1956–57 and £100,000 for 1957–58, specifically to modernise mental and mental deficiency hospitals in the region, and the Board will have an estimated £109,000 in the above two years from the special allocation for replacing engineering plant. I am setting aside special moneys for improving the diet in this kind of hospital and institution. Generally, with the Regional Board, I shall keep the position under constant review.

Mrs. Castle

While I welcome that reply, might I ask the right hon. Gentleman what progress he has made with his consultations about the Whitley machinery for claims by mental nurses, and whether he can make a statement to the House in the near future about how he proposes to improve the machinery?

Mr. Turton

I have no statement to make at the moment about the consultations on the Whitley machinery. I answered a Question about the matter last week. As the hon. Lady knows, a claim relating to nurses' pay will be coming before the Whitley Council on 20th March.

Mrs. Castle

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that a fortnight ago he told me that he was having consultations with a view to ascertaining whether the speed of action and representation of the present machinery were adequate to deal with the serious situation? When shall we have a statement about that from him?

Mr. Turton

All I can say is that I am not at present in a position to make a statement about the matter.

Dr. Summerskill

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the whole House has shown that it feels the seriousness of this position? As the Question relates to working conditions, will he not say that the most important thing is to increase the staff in the mental hospitals? Although he has given an extra grant to this regional board, which everybody appreciates, is he not aware that he can do something more immediately if he will formulate a scheme which will ensure an increase in the staffs of the institutions?

Mr. Turton

I agree with the right hon. Lady; the important thing is to get more people on the staffs of the institutions. The work at present proceeding at Whittingham Hospital includes the building of 14 staff houses, which will give greater encouragement for the recruitment of staff for the hospital.

Mr. Lagden

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the adverse conditions under which so many of these staffs are working are having an effect on the patients? Will he make sure that many of the staffs do not have to continue to work the extremely long hours that they are working at the moment, thus leaving themselves at the end of the long periods in no condition to give of their best to the patients?

Mr. Turton

That is a perfectly fair comment at the present time. The patients do, indeed, suffer from the shortage of staff in the institutions.