HC Deb 13 March 1975 vol 888 cc240-1W
Mr. Ovenden

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish figures to show the numbers of hospital beds available per 1,000 population in each health district in Kent in respect of each medical and surgical specialty.

Mr. Alec Jones:

The numbers of beds are shown below. Comparison between

South-East Kent Canterbury/Thanet Dartford/Gravesham Maidstone Medway Tunbridge Wells
Medical Specialties
General Medicine … 0.51 0.73 1.02 0.27 0.44 0.55
Paediatrics … … 0.06 0.10 0.11 0.08 0.08 0.14
InfectiousDiseases 0.05 0.04 0.12 — 0.02 —
Chest Diseases … — 0.20 0.18 061 004 —
Dermatology … 0.02 0.06 0.05 0.20 — 0.40
20 beds only 20 beds only
Physical Medicine/Rehabilitation … — 0.60 0.06 — — —
Surgical Specialties
General Surgery … 0.77 0.61 0.78 0.26 0.55 0.66
Ear, Nose & Throat 0.10 0.11 0.16 0.25 0.08 0.10
Traumatic and Orthopaedic … 0.27 0.63 0.46 0.31 0.28 0.53
Ophthalmology … 0.09 0.08 0.10 0.28 — 0.09
Radiotherapy … — 0.08 — — 0.07 0.14
Urology … … — 0.13 0.12 — — —
Plastic Surgery … — — — — — 0.43
Thoracic Surgery … — — — 0.22 — —
Dental Surgery … 0.01 0.02 0.02 — — 0.12
Geriatrics … … 1.68 1.95 1.23 1.25 0.74 0.95
Gynaecology … 0.20 0.21 0.27 0.07 0.12 0.20
Obstetrics … … 0.32 0.36 0.53 0.15 0.41 0.36
Special Care Babies 0.04 0.08 0.07 — 0.09 0.07
GP Maternity … — 0.09 0.06 0.11 — 0.33
GP Other … … 0.16 0.31 0.13 — 0.02 1.21

Mr. Goodhew

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital beds have had to be closed and for how many days each as the result of enforced holidays taken by nursing staff due to the back-dating of the recommendations of the Halsbury Report.

Mrs. Castle:

Information in the form requested is not available.

I am aware that the implementation with effect from 1st April 1974 of the increased annual leave for nurses, recommended by the committee of inquiry under Lord Halsbury, has given rise to operational problems in a number of hospitals. Elsewhere, health authorities have minimised the effect by making use of the Whitley Council agreement whereby leave not taken may be carried over to the following leave year. The effect of the additional leave on nurse staffing may then be spread over the period ending 31st March 1976.