§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many ancillary staff in Portsmouth hospitals have duties totally separate from care, administrative and support services for private patients.
§ Sir K. JosephIt is not possible to give this figure as a high proportion of ancillary staff work in hospital departments which are involved in a number of ways in providing a service for all patients including private patients.
§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the latest industrial dispute in Portsmouth hospitals with particular reference to the general state of industrial relations in the city's hospitals.
§ Sir K. JosephThe dispute arose because some members of the ancillary staff withdrew their services as a protest against the hospital management committee's insistence that they should continue to provide a service for all National Health Service patients including private patients. The dispute has been resolved and all staff have now returned to normal duty.
§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total num- 298W ber of beds in Portsmouth hospitals; what is the total number of private beds in the same hospitals; and what is the total number of ancillary staff at these hospitals.
§ Sir K. Joseph2,672 beds of which 27 are private beds; there are 1,630 ancillary staff.