§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total nursing staffing establishment for the Worksop and Retford Hospitals; why this is below strength; and what steps he is taking to rectify this.
§ Mr. MoyleThe numbers of nursing staff in post are below the approved funded establishment of 433.5 whole-time equivalents because of recent recruiting difficulties. The Nottinghamshire Area Health Authority (Teaching) is taking urgent steps to remedy the situation.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will set up an inquiry into the staffing of the Worksop and Retford District Hospitals, resulting in ward and theatre closures and inadequate, unqualified supervision of patients at night.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will investigate the circumstances of 9th November 1977 at Kilton Hospital, Worksop, in Ward 1, when pupils had to attend a patient with a cardiac arrest because the only available ward sister was engaged on a fire alarm emergency; and whether he is satisfied with emergency switchboard procedures on this scattered hospital site.
§ Mr. MoyleI assume that my hon. Friend is referring to an incident which occurred on 19th November. The patient was admitted that evening to a ward which was in the charge of an experienced sister. When the sister subsequently had to leave in response to a fire alarm a senior house officer came to the ward to supervise the patient. Nottinghamshire Area Health Authority (Teaching) is investigating the adequacy of the emergency switchboard procedures.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why, in November 1977 in Ward 4 of Kilton Hospital, 818W Worksop, a State enrolled nurse was on duty for only two nights out of 30, and for only seven nights in December; why supervision on other nights was merely by auxiliaries and ward orderlies; why, during the week of 31st December, porters on duty had to supervise wards while nursing staff had their break; and why, on 2nd January, day staff had to stay until 8.30 p.m. to give medicine.
§ Mr. MoyleThe policy of the Nottinghamshire Area Health Authority (Teaching) is to have a trained nurse on each ward at all times. Ward 4 is the only ward where this has not yet been achieved. I understand that a night sister supervises the giving of medicines, visits the ward regularly, and is available on a personal call system at all times. I am assured that porters have not supervised wards. Day staff are routinely on duty until 8.30 p.m.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the operating theatre at Retford Hospital has been closed since 2nd December 1977; and when it is likely to reopen.
§ Mr. MoyleThe theatre closed because of staff shortages and will reopen as soon as additional staff have been recruited.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the Capper Williams Ward at Victoria Hospital, Worksop, has been closed since 3rd December 1977; when he expects it to open again; what effect this is likely to have on the waiting list in Worksop and Retford district for day surgical cases; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleThe ward was closed in order to release staff for other duties in the hospital and will reopen when staff levels permit. The increase in the waiting list is estimated to be about 90 cases per month.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the children's surgical ward, Ward 7, at Kilton Hospital, Worksop, has been closed since 4th December; how many children have had to be sent elsewhere because of this closure; what effect this has had on the waiting list; and when it is likely to open again.
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§ Mr. MoyleThe ward closed due to sickness among trained staff and will reopen when staff levels permit. No cases have been sent elsewhere by the hospital, as urgent cases have continued to be treated in the hospital. Before the ward was closed, there was no waiting list. There are now 46 children on an ear, nose and throat waiting list.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why seven student nurses at Kilton and Victoria Hospitals, Worksop, who had qualified there in December 1977, were told to apply elsewhere for available jobs.
§ Mr. MoyleIn August 1977, when the numbers of nursing stall in post were up to establishment, final-year student nurses were advised that there might not be vacancies available when they qualified. At the time they qualified, vacancies existed, and none of those seeking a post in the district at that time has been turned down.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the nursing staffing level of the Worksop and Retford District Hospitals in 1969 and 1977; what is the comparative number of admissions; and what is the number of administrative staff responsible for the hospitals on each of these dates.
§ Mr. MoyleThe information is as follows:
1969 1977 Nursing establishment (whole-time equivalent) 298 418 Admissions 8,378 9,807 Administrative staff (whole-time equivalent) 8.5 9 Direct comparisons are misleading as many changes have taken place during this period.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many geriatric patients attended clinics in Retford and Worksop Hospitals for follow-up treatment and referrals from general practitioners in 1974; and how many attended in 1977.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the 820W total number of geriatric admissions to Kilton Hospital, Worksop, in 1969; what staff were available to treat them; and what were the equivalent figures for 1977.
§ Mr. MoyleIn 1977 admissions of geriatric patients totalled 1,033. Staff in post at 31st December 1977 were one consultant in geriatric medicine, three senior house officers and 49.5 nursing staff. There was no geriatric department at the hospital in 1969.
§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many domiciliary consultations were made by the consultant physician in geriatrics from February 1976 to June 1976 and from July 1977 to December 1977; what is the maximum number of visits he is supposed to make in a year; and how many are actually made.
§ Mr. MoyleThe present consultant geriatrician based at Kilton Hospital took up post on 1st May 1976 and by 30th June 1976 had made 39 domiciliary visits. From 1st July to 31st December 1977 he made 205 visits. The number of visits made by an individual consultant will be a matter for his clinical judgment. In the year ending 31st March 1977, 304 visits were made.