§ BARONESS BROOKE OF YSTRADFELLTEasked Her Majesty's Government:
- 1. How many of the Regional Hospital Boards have agreed establishments of nurses;
- 2. How many hospitals have in fact reached such establishments;
- 3. In how many instances have hospitals been required to reduce their nursing staff owing to Government financial policy.
§ LORD KENNETNine Regional Hospital Boards have agreed establishments of nurses. The number of hospitals that have reached these establishments is not readily ascertainable. The determination of financial prior ties is a matter for hospital authorities and while recruitment at some hospitals has been slowed down for financial reasons, information on the number of hospitals that may have reduced numbers of nursing staff is not readily available.