§ Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of increasing difficulties respecting the supply of adequate nursing staff in certain hospitals; whether steps are being taken to utilise the services, temporarily or otherwise, of medical and nursing staff not urgently required in military hospitals; and whether any report is anticipated in the near future from the committee presided over by Sir Arthur Robinson?
§ Miss HorsbrughI am aware that some hospitals are finding difficulty in obtaining sufficient nursing staff. Amongst the various measures that are being taken to relieve the situation, the borrowing of staff from military hospitals has been considered, but I am afraid that the demands on Army nursing personnel are so heavy at the present time that this is not likely to be practicable. The allocation of doctors as between His Majesty's Forces and civilian services is being considered by the Medical Personnel (Priority) Committee presided over by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Undersecretary for the Dominions. Sir Arthur Robinson's Committee on medical personnel reported in January last, and its recommendations were announced in a reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Denbigh (Sir H. Morris-Jones) on 24th April.