§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of nursing posts at St. Ann's hospital in Tottenham are currently unfilled; and if he will make a statement about what the Government are doing to resolve the shortage of nurses at St. Ann's and other hospitals which are similarly affected.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe hon. Member may wish to approach the chairman of Haringey health authority for the local information he seeks.
This Government established the independent review body for nursing and midwifery staff and have implemented all four reports of that body. Since 1979, nurses' pay has increased by about 30 per cent. in real terms.
Health authorities, which are responsible for recruitment, have been asked to improve recruitment and retention by increasing male recruitment, making greater efforts to recruit mature entrants, organise "back to nursing" campaigns including refresher training, establish nurse banks and give more opportunities for flexible working arrangements, part-time working and job sharing. They have also been asked to make the best use of available staff by better matching of staff to work loads and better deployment, more use of performance indicators, review their skill mix, provide better support for trained staff and more use of five-day wards.
Current central activities include consultations on new nurse training proposals (Project 2000) of which one aim is to improve recruitment and retention; a feasibility study 754W on the use of YTS as a means of training support workers in nursing and other professions and possibly provide for some an avenue to nurse training; a joint NHS/DHSS working group on equal opportunities for women which is aiming to find better ways of retaining existing staff; the nursing and midwifery staff negotiating council are reviewing the nursing clinical grading structure with the aim of making a more flexible structure which can recognise individual skills and responsibility; the regional health authority chairmen have commissioned a study to examine factors influencing recruitment and retention and suggest improvements; and a career development project group has been set up to examine the scope for more attractive career goals for nurses.
§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the proposal to close two operating theatres at St. Ann's hospital, Tottenham; when the theatres were opened; and at what cost.
§ Mrs. CurrieThis is a local matter and the hon. Member may wish to approach the chairman of Haringey health authority for the information he seeks.