§ 55. Mr. Greyasked the Minister of Health if he will give the reasons for the continued increase in the numbers of people waiting for admission to hospitals in the Newcastle region.
§ Mr. PowellA special inquiry into these waiting lists and their significance is to be made on behalf of the regional hospital board and the board of governors.
§ Mr. GreyWhile thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I remind him of the alarm and concern there is about these waiting lists in the Northern Region, that in two years they have increased by 4,770 and the number of people waiting for hospital beds over twelve months has gone up by 1,421? There is disquiet about these figures. We are grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for saying that he will set up an inquiry, but does he believe that the underspending of the capital allocation is responsible for this position? Could he not use private beds to get over the temporary difficulty in relieving waiting lists?
§ Mr. PowellAs to the second part of the question, private beds are always available whenever there is an emergency medical need for their use. On the general point, until the significance of these waiting lists is analysed it is quite 858 impossible to say what is the best way in which they can be soonest reduced.
57. Mr. Slaterasked the Minister of Health how many hospitals in the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board's area are below their establishment of doctors and nurses; and how this figure compares with the rest of the country.
§ Mr. PowellSeven and seventeen, respectively, out of 179. I regret that I have not been able to get the answer to the second part of the Question in the time available.
Mr. SlaterWill the Minister consider publishing in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of those hospitals which are below establishment? What assistance is his Ministry giving to hospitals to help them to reach their establishments?
§ Mr. PowellThe right procedure would be for the hon. Gentleman to ask for the names and then I can publish a list in the OFFICIAL REPORT.