HC Deb 26 February 1962 vol 654 cc936-8
38. Mr. Hilton

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the increasing shortage of physiotherapists, radiographers, laboratory technicians, pharmacists, speech therapists, and almoners, in the Norwich group of hospitals; and what steps he is taking to remedy this situation.

Miss Pitt

No, Sir; the numbers have increased in some of these professions but fallen in others. The hospital authority is making intensive efforts to recruit more staff, especially part-time.

Mr. Hilton

Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware of the great concern of the medical staff of the Norwich group of hospitals at the shortage, which is having an adverse effect on the treatment of patients in that area? While I appreciate the Minister's ten-year plan for hospitals, may I ask the hon. Lady whether she would not agree that it is important that we should have a sufficient number of these important workers to carry out the work which they are doing now? Is not the real reason for this shortage the miserably low salaries which these important workers are paid? Will not the hon. Lady have a talk with her colleagues to see that the salaries are increased? If she does, I am pretty sure that there will be no shortage.

Miss Pitt

I agree that members of these professions make an important contribution to hospital work. I have already answered a Question about pay. There are several pay claims pending for the different grades.

Dame Irene Ward

Since my hon. Friend has now been able to give certain information about a special region on the question of staffing, may I ask her why the other day I could not have an answer about the number of these people in this group of professions supplementary to medicine who are employed by all the regional hospital boards? Why cannot we be told how many courses have had to be cancelled? Why cannot we have a general survey of the whole position, if my hon. Friend is able to give these odd answers—[HON. MEMBERS: "Very odd."]—though very important ones?

Miss Pitt

I made a special inquiry about Norwich because the Question was addressed to the situation in Norwich.

Dame Irene Ward

I asked about the position everywhere.

Miss Pitt

To inquire nationally would mean asking every hospital management committee what numbers they had on their staffs. [HON. MEMBERS: "So what?"] If I recollect the Question that my hon. Friend the Member for Tyne-mouth (Dame Irene Ward) asked, it included an inquiry about how many were in training, and by no means all the schools are run by the National Health Service.