HC Deb 07 February 1962 vol 653 cc408-9
15. Mr. G. M. Thomson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the establishment for physiotherapists at Dundee Royal Infirmary and Maryfield Hospital, Dundee, respectively; how many full-time physiotherapists are at present employed; and what are the salary ranges for a physiotherapist so employed.

Mr. Maclay

The Board of Management would like to see eight physiotherapists at Dundee Royal Infirmary and seven at Maryfield; at present four full-time physiotherapists are employed at the first and three full-time and three part time at the second. Salaries range from £525 to £650 a year for the basic grade of physiotherapist to £710 to £870 for the superintendent grade.

Mr. Thomson

Is the Secretary of State aware that over Dundee as a whole the number of physiotherapists is running at rather less than half what it should be? Does he not agree that this is due to the pitifully inadequate salaries that they are offered? Is he aware that Dundee Football Club recently offered a physiotherapist for their players a salary substantially in excess of the salary received by the physiotherapist in the main teaching hospital responsible for thousands of Dundee people? Although Dundee Football Club is the best club in the country, is not the Government's meanness creating a cock-eyed situation?

Mr. Maclay

The hon. Gentleman is really developing the almost classic case for almost indefinite inflation, one step leading to another for ever and ever more.