§ 19. Mr. Greyasked the Minister of Health how many medical posts in the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board area remain unfilled; and how many posts have been vacant for longer than two months.
§ Miss PittThirty-three and 24, excluding non-teaching hospital posts below registrar, for which the figures are not available.
§ Mr. GreyDoes not the hon. Lady think that one of the main reasons why there are long waiting lists in the North-East is that the establishment is quite inadequate? Will she therefore make inquiries into this aspect to try to make the establishment fit the needs of the area?
§ Miss PittI will certainly make further inquiries in order to try to satisfy the hon. Gentleman, but on 31st March, 1960, which is the latest date for which we have figures, vacancies in the grades of registrar and below for Great Britain 13 averaged 9 per cent. The average for Newcastle was slightly below the Great Britain average, so by comparison it is slightly better off.
§ 20. Mr. Greyasked the Minister of Health how many psychiatrists are required in the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board area; and when he expects these doctors to be available.
§ Miss PittThe Board has proposed to create four additional consultant posts. My right hon. Friend has approved two, which the Board expects to fill in the next two months.
§ Mr. GreyIs the hon. Lady aware of the widespread belief that there is a great shortage of psychiatrists and that they are being rationed out to every region? What steps are being taken to train more doctors of this kind?
§ Miss PittThe hon. Gentleman is correct. There is a nation-wide shortage of consultant psychiatrists. That is why it is necessary to limit the posts in some areas. The numbers in posts in England and Wales increased by 19.5 per cent. between 1955 and 1960, and the corresponding increase in the Newcastle region was 33 per cent.