HC Deb 11 December 1961 vol 651 cc2-3
2. Mr. Hale

asked the Minister of Health what steps he will take to assist the needed recruitment of registered and enrolled nurses at the Boundary Park Hospital, Oldham, so as to bring the skilled staff up to strength and enable wards block W.2 and W.3 to be opened.

Miss Pitt

Recruitment at individual hospitals is the responsibility of the hispital management committees.

Mr. Hale

It may be the responsibility of the hospital management committee, but the rates of wages for nurses are fixed by the Government. A nurse today is paid considerably less than a shorthand-typist. Is it not the case that we cannot get nurses, that the hospital is not fully staffed and that the admirable work of the excellent medical officer there is, to an extent, frustrated by a shortage of staff? What does the Ministry propose to do about it?

Miss Pitt

The rates of wages are decided by the appropriate Whitley Council. and there is a claim pending at the moment. The position about the recruitment of nurses is that at 31st March this year the figure was the highest ever on record.

Mr. Hale

The hon. Lady says that nurses' wages are decided by the Whitley Council, but is not she aware that the Government are reserving the right to repudiate every decision made by wages councils and that to tell them in advance what not to do makes a mockery of the thing?

Miss Pitt

I do not think that that is really a question for my Department, but it is not the case that the Government are repudiating any decisions.

3. Mr. Hale

asked the Minister of Health why his officers were not able to obtain information about the population served by the Boundary Park Hospital, Oldham, so as to obtain an accurate computation of geriatric needs.

Miss Pitt

No special difficulties have arisen in computing the geriatric beds needed in this area.

Mr. Hale

But the Parliamentary Secretary promised last week to send me a copy of the report. I must, of course, wait to see what it says. I have not received it yet, unless it arrived this morning. I have not been home this morning. In the meantime, may I suggest that, when I do receive a copy, I may be surprised to find that it contains the very statement that I make in my Question?

Miss Pitt

I did not promise to send the hon. Gentleman a copy of the report. I told him that I had no doubt that my right hon. Friend would follow up his previous letter and tell him of the results of the inquiries and suggestions made by the visiting team which had been to this hospital. The point that the hon. Gentleman may have in mind is the definition of the number of geriatric beds. I am told that the visiting team was informed that the population served was about 250,000, but it had previously been informed by the regional hospital board that the figure of 250,000 was for geriatrics and only about 210,000 for other purposes. However, the necessary information has been obtained.