§ 86. Brigadier Medlicottasked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement as to any plans that are under consideration to improve the conditions of service of doctors, male and female nurses and other workers in mental hospitals.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodI am most anxious that there should be every reasonable incentive for staff to work in the mental hospitals. In some respects the conditions of service in these hospitals are already better than in other hospitals, and improvements of one sort and another are constantly being made. For example, an increase in the rates of pay for the nursing staff has just been referred for settlement by arbitration, and a memorandum of guidance on other aspects of the nursing services was circulated to hospital authorities a few months ago. I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of it.