§ Mr. Masonasked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the shortage of staff in the institutions which cater for mental defectives from Barnsley and district; and what plans he has to overcome this problem.
§ Miss PittThe hospital chiefly concerned is St. Catherine's, Doncaster. The number of female staff is up to establishment and of male staff only six below establishment, but there is a shortage of fully qualified nurses. The prospects of recruiting further male staff by local advertisement are better than they were, and my right hon. Friend does not think that any special action by him is required.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the list of urgent cases of mental defectives awaiting entry to institutions and hospitals from Barnsley is on the increase; and what are his plans for reducing this list by allocating to Barnsley and district other hospitals for their admission.
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§ Miss PittThe list fluctuates; it is now 10, compared with 9 a year ago and 11 a year earlier. Patients from Barnsley are admitted to hospitals in other parts of the region, according to relative urgency, but there are longer waiting lists elsewhere and my right hon. Friend would not be justified in asking the regional hospital board to allocate accommodation specially to meet the needs of Barnsley.