HC Deb 14 May 1985 vol 79 cc156-7
2. Mr. Hirst

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many health authorities have so far appointed chief executive officers in pursuit of the recommendations of the Griffiths committee; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State for Social Services (Mr. Norman Fowler)

The appointment of regional general managers is almost complete. Thirteen have been appointed, and the remaining post has been advertised. Good progress is also being made in appointing district general managers. One hundred and sixty-five district health authorities out of a total of 191, and six out of eight special health authorities, have now appointed general managers.

Mr. Hirst

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the importance of chief executive officers in the proper and efficient disposition of human and physical resources in the Health Service? Is he satisfied, from the appointments made, that the salary scales are sufficient to attract applicants of the necessary calibre?

Mr. Fowler

Yes, they are. Of the total that I have just given, about 30 have been attracted from outside the Health Service.

Mrs. Renée Short

Is the Secretary of State aware that I have considerable sympathy with general managers who have been appointed, especially those who were in similar posts before the Griffiths report was introduced? They face two major problems: first, the considerable reduction in the number of hospital beds since 1979; and, secondly, the transfer of resources from the Health Service, for which they are responsible, to local authority services for the care in the community policy.

Mr. Fowler

The hon. Lady will agree that improving the management process inside the Health Service will help with those problems, as with all others. The reforms that we have made in that area are some of the most important that have been made during the past 10 years.

Mr. Hickmet

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his Department refused to sanction the appointment of the chief executive to Scunthorpe district, and that that has caused anxiety to the health authority there? Will he look at the matter again? Will he not refuse to sanction such an appointment because the terms and conditions of service, for example, may not be in line with what some of his departmental officials believe is right?

Mr. Fowler

We are recognising the terms of service of that appointment. The Department and I would be much more open to criticism if we rubber-stamped every proposal from health authorities.

Mr. Pavitt

When did the Secretary of State last discuss the Griffiths appointments with Mr. Trevor Clay and the Royal College of Nursing? Has he taken into account the fact that the only paramedical workers in the National Health Service, on whom his Department spent millions of pounds on training management, are nurses? Will he alter his present policy, under which too few nurses are being appointed as managers?

Mr. Fowler

I am entirely happy to talk to Mr. Trevor Clay about that situation. Indeed, I have in the past talked to him about it, but I am content to talk about it again.

I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman's second point. I should like to see more nurses appearing in management jobs, because the potential of nurses in the Health Service is one of its underused strengths.