§ 9. Mr. Gristasked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the increase in medical staff serving the National Health Service in Wales since 1979.
§ Mr. Mark RobinsonThere was a 13.2 per cent. increase in total whole-time equivalent HNS medical staff in Wales between 1979 and 1985. The whole-time equivalent increased from 2,001 to 2,266 over the period.
§ Mr. GristI should have liked my hon. Friend to give a clearer answer than that slightly jargonised one. Nevertheless, does not those figures give the lie to those who say that the Government are trying to run down and abolish the Health Service? Could he give the figure for centrally-funded operations for heart disease, which is, after all, one of the most dangerous aspects for the Health Service in Wales?
§ Mr. RobinsonI entirely agree with my hon. Friend's latter sentiments. South Glamorgan district health authority has been provided with funds to achieve a target of 600 cardiac operations a year, and in 1985 605 such operations were performed. In addition, a new cardiac unit capable of carrying out 1,100 operations a year is being planned and will be funded by the Welsh Office.
§ Mr. WigleyIs the Minister aware of the crisis in Bangor with the lack of psychiatric beds in Ysbyty 651 Gwynedd hospital and a lack of staff to serve them? Is he aware that, compared with the standard 0.5 beds per 1,000 population, which should give 80 beds, there are now only 40, and that, to bring that up to a more acceptable level of 46, there would have to be 10 extra staff? Will he ensure that the resources are available to recruit those staff?
§ Mr. RobinsonThere are new beds in Gwynnedd precisely for that purpose. The management of psychiatric beds is a matter for the health authority.