HC Deb 19 July 1965 vol 716 cc1115-6
26. Mr. Cordle

asked the Minister of Health how many Commonwealth nurses and doctors are employed in Bournemouth hospitals.

Mr. Loughlin

Fifty-nine nurses—including student and pupil nurses—and 18 doctors employed in the Bournemouth hospitals are from other Commonwealth countries.

Mr. Cordle

In paying tribute to the excellent work of Commonwealth citizens who have reinforced our Health Service, may I ask the Minister what plans he has for attracting a full complement of people from this country to staff what I might describe as our most intimate social service?

Mr. Loughlin

I am glad that the hon. Member has paid tribute to the Commonwealth citizens, both doctors and nurses, who are engaged in the Hospital Service. They have made, and are making, a great contribution and I, too, pay tribute to them. Obviously, there is a shortage of doctors, and ways of increasing further the intake into the medical schools are being urgently considered. There is obviously difficulty also in the recruitment of nurses, but we have done what was possible. As the hon. Member knows, there has recently been an increase in pay. In the autumn, we will be conducting a considerable publicity campaign to recruit nurses. Frankly, I do not think that it will be possible to eliminate the shortage of nurses and to obviate the need to use Commonwealth doctors and nurses for a considerable time.

Dr. Wyndham Davies

Would not the Minister agree that a crash programme to open up four new medical schools, as suggested in the Labour Party manifesto before the last General Election, would have helped to solve this problem?

Mr. Loughlin

The hon. Member is implying that no crash programme was being conducted by the previous Administration. The only way that we shall do this will be to do it gradually. We are considering ways and means of improving the intake of doctors in the medical schools and the recruitment of nurses. I do not see what else we can do.

Mr. Wood

Will the Minister answer my hon. Friend's question? The Labour Party manifesto mentioned four medical schools. Since the election, we have heard nothing further about them.

Mr. Loughlin

At least one new medical school is planned. If the right hon. Gentleman wishes to quote the election statements, he is tempting us to quote other election statements. [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer the question."] We have been in office for less than a year—[HON. MEMBERS: "Too long."] It may be too long for hon. Members opposite, but it is not long enough for us.