§ 7. Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the North-East Thames regional health authority concerning manpower cuts.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Mr. John Patten)The North-East Thames regional health authority wrote to the Department on 31 August setting out its response to the indicative figures issued at the end of July. I met the chairman of the authority on 27 September to discuss the final target for the region.
§ Mr. GouldWill the Minister confirm that in the Dagenham health district the cuts amount to more than three times 0.5 per cent.? Will he also confirm that the district health authority could have met his financial targets without the imposed manpower cuts? Is he aware that the imposed cuts will mean closed wards, fewer nurses, the impossibility of pursuing specialist subjects in Oldchurch hospital and a lower level of patient care?
§ Mr. PattenThe hon. Gentleman has asked a number of questions. The responsibility for the distribution of manpower targets within the North-East Thames regional health authority is a matter for that health authority. There is no evidence that patient services will suffer as a result of the manpower indicative figures that have been given.
§ Mr. EggarWill my hon. Friend confirm that the implementation of the Griffiths proposals, coupled with the contracting out of services, will make it relatively easy for that authority to comply with the manpower targets?
§ Mr. PattenMy hon. Friend is correct. We want health authorities to address themselves first and foremost to tackling difficult manpower problems rather than turning, as is all too easy, to cutting services, slackening estate maintenance and not re-ordering new equipment as they should.