§ 16. Mr. Spriggsasked the Minister of Health what is the number of unqualified staff doing ward duties at the Rain-hill Hospital, St. Helens; and if he will make a statement about staff problems affecting this hospital.
§ Miss PittOne hundred and seventy-four whole-time and 172 part-time nursing assistants and 76 students at 31st March, 1962. Some overtime is being worked by unqualified staff, but otherwise my right hon. Friend is not aware of any special staffing problems.
§ Mr. SpriggsIs the hon. Lady aware that the Minister's instruction to the management committee that time shall be taken off later in respect of overtime worked is having unfavourable effects amongst qualified nursing staff, and that it is in the best interests of the staff that overtime should be authorised and a straight payment given for it? Will the hon. Lady consider that suggestion?
§ Miss PittOvertime has not been worked by qualified staff since July, 1961. Some, but not all, of the unqualified staff work overtime, but I take it that the point is that all ought to be paid for it. As I have said before, conditions of service are different for qualified and unqualified staff, and it is part of the conditions of the latter that they are eligible for overtime pay where overtime is worked.