HC Deb 03 June 1986 vol 98 cc720-1
6. Mr. Evennett

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with administrative staffing levels in the National Health Service.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Mr. Ray Whitney)

We are concerned that administrative and clerical staffing levels in the National Health Service should be controlled so that resources can be concentrated on direct patient care. The contribution of administrative staff to the running of the service is necessary and valuable, but I believe that there is still scope for improvements in the use and efficiency of this staff group. The National Health Service management board is, therefore, conducting a review of administrative and clerical staffing to see what further action is needed.

Mr. Evennett

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that reply. In the South-East Thames region there are three administrators for every one doctor, and the administration is taking far too big a share of the resources. As a result, hospitals such as the Erith and District hospital in my constituency, which provides community care, do not obtain enough cash to provide the necessary service in the area. I welcome my hon. Friend's reply, but hope that he will do even more to rectify the situation.

Mr. Whitney

I am well aware of my hon. Friend's concern, and I read with interest his exchanges with the chairman of the regional health authority. In making this judgment it is important to understand that, under the general heading of administrative and clerical staff, an important contribution is made by the clinically related administrative staff and, for example, by mental health care assistance.

Mr. Sheldon

Will the Minister give an undertaking that those who are prematurely retired from the National Health Service are not re-employed in the same class of work? Two sittings ago the Public Accounts Committee drew attention to some of the confusion that was apparent in the records of the NHS and of the Minister's Department.

Mr. Whitney

I take due note of that point. Indeed, I believe that action has been taken in response to the PAC's observations.

Mrs. Currie

Does my hon. Friend agree that administrative staff in the NHS are often much maligned? Is he aware that they include such people as ward clerks and medical secretaries, who provide the essential back-up for doctors, nurses and other paramedical staff, payroll clerks of what is now the largest employer in western Europe, and such other good people as chairmen of district health authorities and general managers, who were introduced under Conservative legislation? Is it not time that we stopped being quite so rude about administrative staff and recognised the work that they do?

Mr. Whitney

I am happy to agree with that general point. Just as we have significantly increased the number of doctors, dentists, nursery and midwifery staff, and professional and technical staff within the NHS, so, at the same time, there has been an increased need for back-up staff to reinforce those efforts.

Mr. Cyril Smith

The north-west region is appointing a growing army of public relations officers—I believe that three have been appointed in the past six months. What possible contribution do they make to health care? When will the Minister deal with the financing of the north-west region, where money is frittered away on, for example, public relations officers while wards and whole hospitals are being closed and nurses are being asked to take premature retirement?

Mr. Whitney

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the funding of the north-west region is increasing significantly above the rate of inflation. The employment of the administrative and clerical staff is one of those areas to be investigated by the management board review.

Mr. Meacher

Is the Minister aware that the Government's latest proposals to abolish or reduce the registration and inspection of private nursing homes will put thousands of vulnerable elderly and handicapped persons at risk? Will the Government withdraw that proposal, in the light of the recent appalling revelations about Oriel Lodge in Suffolk, which combines just about everything that can be wrong in the private sector—gross maltreatment of patients, an almost total lack of supervision and exploitive profits of £130,000 a year, made from just 10 mentally handicapped, helpless persons?

Mr. Whitney

As so often happens, the hon. Gentleman is misinformed. There are no such proposals. As to the performance of nursing homes, I am not surprised, but disappointed, that the hon. Gentleman concentrates his attack on the private sector while ignoring the deficiencies that are sadly all too often found in the statutory sector, of which the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms. Harman) could tell him.