HC Deb 04 March 1963 vol 673 cc20-1
37. Mr. Pavitt

asked the Minister of Health if the Brighton and Lewes Group of Hospitals are still banning recruitment of nurses to replace resignations; and whether the two wards which were closed for lack of funds at Bevendean and the Royal Sussex County Hospitals have yet been reopened.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Mr. Bernard Braine)

These hospitals are recruiting nurses. They expect to reopen the two wards shortly.

Mr. Pavitt

The hon. Gentleman has not answered the Question, whether there was a ban and when it ceased to exist. Is he aware that the Brighton Evening Argus claimed that 21 beds were being closed for a considerable time because of lack of nursing staff? Is the hon. Gentleman also aware that the large number of nurses who resigned at the end of December and in the early days of January were not replaced?

Mr. Braine

There was a standstill on recruitment for only six weeks. Incidentally, during that time there were no restrictions on the recruitment of students or on the filling of vacancies for ward sisters and higher grades. The point is that extra beds were found for the patients who would have been nursed in those wards. As I said originally, the wards are to be reopened shortly.

Mr. Pavitt

Is the Joint Parliamentary Secretary aware that people were given notice to quit three days before 11th January and that Ward 5 was closed down suddenly? Cannot something be done? The hospital management committee is placed in an intolerable situation. What support can the Minister give to the good management of the committee in these circumstances?

Mr. Braine

I am not sure what the hon. Member is driving at. In this case, there was a stop on recruitment for six weeks. That has ceased. Nurses are now being recruited and the wards are being reopened. In the intervening period, patients who would have been nursed in those wards were nursed elsewhere.