§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what periodic ward closures are planned in the Medway Health District as a result of the curtailment of nursing services following the implementation of the Halsbury Report; if she will list the numbers of weeks of planned closures for each ward at each 37W hospital in the district; and what will be overall percentage reduction in the number of beds available in the forthcoming year.
Specialty From To ST. BARTHOLOMEWS HOSPITAL Helen Lloyd … … … Surgical … … 27th March 2nd April Gundulph (6 beds) … … Medical … … Helen Lloyd … … … Surgical … … 29th June 12th July McCulloch … … … Surgical … … 13th July 26th July Ludford Cooper … … … Medical … … 27th July 9th August Sheppey Tower … … … Surgical … … 10 August 23rd August Ludford Cooper … … … Medical … … 24th December 1st January McCulloch … … … Surgical … … MEDWAY HOSPITAL An Orthopaedic Ward closed in rotation for four weeks each between … … … — 22nd June 13th September ALL SAINTS' HOSPITAL Stephen … … … E. N. T. … … 27th March 2nd April 24th May 30th May 24th August 29th August 24th December 1st January Mary … … … Post Natal … … 27th April 10th May 27th July 9th August 2nd November 15th November 25th January 7th February SHEPPEY GENERAL HOSPITAL Sexburga … … … Gynaecological Surgical … Three weeks to be agreed with Consultant staff. Surgical … … Margaret … … … G.P. Ward … … 27th March 9th April 28th September 11th October 21st December 3rd January De Shurland … … … Medical … … Closed for Three weeks avoiding summer season. Dates to be agreed with Consultant staff. Cheyncy … … … SITTINGBOURNE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL … 15 Surgical beds … 27th March 2nd April This represents a 1.7 per cent. reduction in the number of beds available. The closures will not be necessary if more nurses can be recruited.
§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if she will give an estimate of the scale of the reduction in the national availability of hospital beds as a result of the implementation of the Halsbury Report; and what additional finance would be necessary to provide the resources to the health authorities to allow them to maintain present standards;
(2) what reduction in the availability of hospital beds is likely to result from the implementation of the Halsbury Report in Kent and in the South-East Regional Health Authority area; and what additional finance would be necessary to provide the resources to the health authorities to allow them to maintain present standards.
§ Dr. OwenIt is assumed that the reference is to the effect of the increased annual leave for nurses recommended by the Halsbury Committee of Inquiry. The situation will vary locally according to the
38W
§ Dr. OwenThe planned closures, the resulting from the increased leave for junior nurses, are understood to be as follows:
changing nurse-staffing position and it is not possible to give an estimate of a continuing reduction in available beds nationally or for any one region attributable to this improvement in conditions of service. Additional finance has been made available to implement the recommendation of the report. The maintenance of services in this respect therefore depends on the ability to recruit additional nurses and it is hoped that the considerable improvement in pay and conditions of service recommended by the Halsbury Committee will help in achieving this result.