HC Deb 09 February 1959 vol 599 cc857-9
49. Mrs. Castle

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now reconsider his refusal to make additional funds available to hospital authorities for the purpose of implementing the recommendations of the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council, regarding the reduction in hours of duty of hospital nursing and midwifery staff.

Mr. Walker-Smith

This is a matter which is being taken into account in considering what funds can be allocated to hospital authorities for revenue purposes for the coming financial year.

Mrs. Castle

Can the Minister say when he will be in a position to give the House the results of his study of the progress reports for which we asked by 30th November last, and will he tell the House in what percentage of hospitals the 44-hour week is now working and for what percentage of their staff?

Mr. Walker-Smith

I cannot give the hon. Lady the percentage figures at the moment, but the reports from the boards, which I have studied, show that a considerable measure of success has been achieved in the effort to make the greatest possible reduction in hours within the existing resources. I am considering, as I said, whether it is possible to make available any further funds.

Dr. Summerskill

Would the Minister say what he has done to implement the provisions of one of his recent circulars on this subject in which it is recommended that auxiliary workers should be provided because that would facilitate a reduction in the working hours of midwives?

Mr. Walker-Smith

This matter is in the minds of the regional hospital boards. If there is any precise aspect of the matter on which the right hon. Lady would like information, perhaps she would put down a Question or let me know.

Mr. Mellish

Is the Minister aware that a decision on this is needed very urgently? Some hospitals are unable to reduce working hours, particularly where they are already short of existing nursing staff, and because of that they cannot attract more nurses because the hours worked are more than those in other hospitals? That type of hospital is now in an impossible situation, and we need a decision very quickly on the matter. When are we going to get it?

Mr. Walker-Smith

I follow the hon. Gentleman's point, but I have already said in answer to the hon. Lady's Question that I am taking this into account in considering what funds should be allocated for the coming year.

50. Mrs. Castle

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to remedy the injustice whereby mental nurses are compelled to work the first four hours of overtime without pay.

Mr. Walker-Smith

Any revision of the existing rule regarding additional payment would be a matter for the Whitley Council to consider in the first instance.

Mrs. Castle

Is not the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that mental nurses feel very strongly that they are not getting their views adequately represented on the Whitley Council? Is he also aware of the fact that the grave shortage of mental nurses is only made worse by the continuance of injustices like this which tend to make the profession increasingly relatively unattractive at a time when we are most in need of mental nurses, and is it not absurd to have mental hospital reforms without proper conditions far mental nurses?

Mr. Walker-Smith

The composition of the Whitley Council is not, of course, a matter for me, as the hon. Lady must know. As to the comparative position of mental and general nurses, it is only mental nurses who receive any payment for overtime. General nurses do not receive payment for overtime.

Dr. Summerskill

In view of the gross overcrowding of our mental hospitals and the shortage of mental nurses, would not the Minister say that if he made here a sympathetic comment on the situation, the Whitley Council would make a note of it?

Mr. Walker-Smith

We are already making progress in the reduction of hours and the consequent extension of leisure time, which is one of the main objects of this reduction. As regards the Whitley Council, the right hon. Lady knows the procedure very well and I would get into trouble if I trod on the toes of the Whitley Council.