HC Deb 29 October 1956 vol 558 cc1066-7
51. Mr. Blenkinsop

asked the Minister of Health to what extent the financial restrictions placed upon management committees of mental hospitals is preventing them from recruiting nursing and medical staff.

Miss Hornsby-Smith

My right hon. Friend has no precise evidence that financial restrictions are preventing mental hospital management committees from recruiting essential nursing and medical staff. He will, however, be glad to look into any particular case the hon. Member has in mind if he will give him the details.

Mr. Blenkinsop

Could not the Minister give a definite guarantee that, if evidence can be provided of cases where hospitals are not able to recruit the staff that is available in the area, he will not let finance stand in the way?

Miss Hornsby-Smith

My right hon. Friend and I have been round the country on many of these mental-health recruiting campaigns during this year, and there has never been any suggestion that if the staff could be obtained the hospitals would be unable to take them on for the reasons outlined by the hon. Gentleman. We have done all we can to encourage recruiting.