HC Deb 03 March 1969 vol 779 cc4-5W
Mr. Ron Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that there are sufficient nurses at the Cumberland Infirmary to cover the hospital over a 24-hour period; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Crossman

The number of nurses in post is 25 below the approved complement and the shortage is temporarily aggravated by the incidence of sick leave. The Authority is continuing its recruitment efforts, and it is hoped that the group nurse training school to be established will in due course support these efforts.

Mr. Ron Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that there are sufficient trainee nurses coming forward to staff the hospitals in Carlisle and Cumberland in the future; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Crossman

Yes, with the exception of Cumberland Infirmary. This hospital is approved for training student nurses, and the number at present in training is 44 below the complement authorised. It is comparatively easy to recruit pupil nurses for which the City General Hospital is approved for training. It has therefore been decided to set up a training school for the group, combining both student and pupil nurses, by about the middle of the year, and to decrease the complement of student nurses and increase that of pupil nurses.