22. Mr. Wainwrightasked the Minister of Health how many midwives were employed in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board's area at the latest available date; and how many vacancies now exist.
§ Mr. Loughlin842 whole-time and 266 part-time at 30th September, 1965; 12 additional midwives would be needed in order to re-open all beds now closed, but for full manning the hospital authorities would like to recruit far more.
Mr. WainwrightWould my hon. Friend consider making it easier for State registered nurses to take the midwifery course, bearing in mind the need to maintain their salaries while taking that course? Secondly, may I ask whether there is any attempt to restrict the number of women going into hospitals to have their children there at present?
§ Mr. LoughlinI am sorry, but I did not quite hear the second part of that supplementary.
§ Dame Irene WardThe answer is "Yes".
§ Sir J. Langford-HoltDo I understand the hon. Gentleman——
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will leave it to the Chair. I know what he is anxious about.
§ Sir J. Langford-HoltDo I understand the Parliamentary Secretary to say that 1223 it is not possible, seven months later, to tell the House how many midwives are employed in this area? Are not they paid?
§ Mr. LoughlinI never said anything of the sort.
Mr. WainwrightWill my hon. Friend answer the first part of my supplementary Question? In the second part I asked whether there were any restrictions which prevented women from having their children in hospitals.
§ Mr. LoughlinI do not know that there are any restrictions. Obviously, the problem of beds and staff is a restriction, but, apart from that, admission to a hospital is determined by clinical need or social need. Whilst hon. Members opposite may laugh at the idea that we have a restriction by virtue of beds and staff, it is not wholly our responsibility.