HC Deb 14 April 1969 vol 781 cc792-3
36. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is now taking to encourage the increasing employment of fully-trained married women nurses on a part-time basis in the National Health Service hospitals.

Mr. Ennals

Advice has been given to hospital authorities on recruitment, reception, welfare and refresher training; the number employed is steadily increasing and I do not think that additional action on our part is required at present.

Mr. Hamilton

Has my hon. Friend investigated the practice in certain teaching hospitals in London where part-time nursing is defined as one or two hours less than full-time employment? Is he aware that this is discouraging some married women from taking part in nursing when they are urgently needed in the service?

Mr. Ennals

There are several different definitions according to the needs of the hospitals concerned. We have specially asked the hospitals, in making their plans, to try to make use of the opportunity for service of people who are prepared to do part-time work. In fact, the figures of increase are encouraging. In 1964 there were 29,000; in 1966 the number had risen to 39,000, and in 1968 there were over 44,000 part-time workers in National Health Service hospitals.

Dame Irene Ward

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that there are many other questions concerning nursing which require answering? Would he ask his right hon. Friend whether he will be ready tomorrow to answer the Question that I have put on the Order Paper about the nursing profession in general and their grievances?

Mr. Ennals

I think it is possible that my right hon. Friend has heard what the right hon. Lady has just said.

Mr. Wallace

Is my hon. Friend aware that current Press publicity on deductions in respect of meals from nurses' salaries will have a seriously adverse effect on recruitment?

Mr. Ennals

That is an entirely different question which I certainly cannot answer now.

Mr. Pavitt

As we already employ consultants on three-hour sessions, on three-quarters allowance time, would my hon. Friend consider a similar kind of scheme for nurses?

Mr. Ennals

I will have a look further at ways in which the hospital service can make use of the varying degrees of time that can be made available by people who are prepared to work part-time. As I have said, it needs to fit in with the requirements of hospitals, but hospitals equally must make their arrangements to fit in with the willingness of people who come forward at the times when we want them to come forward.

Mr. Dean

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that one of the disadvantages of closing the smaller hospitals and concentrating the service entirely on the very large ones will be that we shall lose the services of many women who can work part-time as long as the hospitals are near their homes?

Mr. Ennals

Of course, there always are disadvantages in closing any small hospitals, and the question of staff is one of the factors which are always borne in mind when we have to look at the question of hospital closures. But usually opportunities for employment are found for those hospital nurses who are working part-time in such hospitals as have to be closed.