HC Deb 14 December 1959 vol 615 cc1033-5
7 and 9. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Minister of Health (1) whether he is aware that, in the Newcastle region, the financial allocation for implementing a 44-hour week for nurses only permits its introduction in some hospitals; and why he has authorised expenditure sufficient only for a selective rather than a universal scheme;

(2) what was the increased number of nurses estimated as required by each regional board to implement the 44-hour week; what was the estimated increased cost; and what moneys were allocated by him for this purpose.

Miss Pitt

I regret that the detailed estimates requested by my hon. Friend are not available. In many hospitals it has been possible to reduce hours without extra cost by re-arranging duties and other similar measures, and an additional £1½ million was made available to regional hospital boards during the current year to enable further progress to be made at hospitals where extra money was most needed for this purpose. In the Newcastle Region an 88-hour fortnight has already been introduced in full or substantially in 16 of the 19 general hospital groups and in all of the 11 mental hospital groups.

Dame Irene Ward

A hospital in my constituency, at which the number of nurses was below the number permitted, was told that its recruitment was frozen and that no additional staff could be recruited. In view of the letter I received, which said that only £62,000 had been allocated for the region, is my hon. Friend satisfied that the nurses in our region will have a fair deal?

Miss Pitt

The hospital about which my hon. Friend wrote to me was short of 13 nurses, but they have, in fact, been recruited. The allocation of this money is entirely a matter for the regional hospital board. The addition for each region was dependent on a formula which took into account the ratio of beds to nurses. The Newcastle Region had a better staffing ratio than the average, which is why it received £62,000. This is the right proportion, and I am satisfied that the region has had its share.

Dr. Summerskill

While the hon. Lady may be satisfied about the Newcastle Region, has she had any representations from other mental hospitals where it has been very difficult to implement the 88-hour fortnight and where nurses are subject to the greatest tension?

Miss Pitt

Not to my knowledge, but if the right hon. Lady puts down a Question on that much wider subject, I will try to get the information.