§ 22. Sir J. Gilmourasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if shortage of staff is preventing use being made of any new hospitals or wards of existing hospitals.
§ Mrs. HartStaff shortage is not preventing use being made of new hospitals. A few wards in existing hospitals are sometimes out of use, but staff shortages are seldom the only cause of this.
§ Sir J. GilmourIs it not a fact that the hospital extension recently opened in Wick has been delayed because of the shortage of staff and when the new Victoria Hospital extension opens later this year it will be necessary to close the old hospital in order to transfer its staff so as to open the other one?
§ Mrs. HartThere are many other factors concerning the closure of the orthopaedic hospital in Kirkcaldy. In general we do not expect any difficulty in recruiting staff for the new hospital in Kirkcaldy. This is because, in general terms, all over Scotland recruitment is going very well, and the number of nurses is increasing. We have no evidence to support the kind of claims made by the hon. Gentleman.