§ Mr. Hoodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when the vacancy for an anaesthetist at Stonehouse hospital will be filled; and when the vacancy occurred;
(2) what is the reason for the delay in appointing an anaesthetist at Stonehouse hospital.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythAppointments to individual posts are a matter for individual health boards. However, I understand that anaesthetic services at Stonehouse hospital are provided by the division of anaesthetics based at Law hospital, and that there are currently no vacancies in that division.
§ Mr. Hoodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will give assurances that ear, nose and throat facilities will be maintained at Law hospital;
(2) if he will give assurances that the gynaecology ward will not be closed at Stonehouse hospital;
(3) if he will give assurances that ear, nose and throat facilities will be maintained at Stonehouse hospital;
(4) if he will give assurances that the gynaecology ward will not be closed at Law hospital;
(5) if he will give assurances that emergency facilities will be reinstated during the night at Stonehouse hospital as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThese are matters in the first instance for the Lanarkshire health board.
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§ Mr. Hoodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will give the nurse-to-patient ratio yearly from 1979 at Stonehouse hospital;
(2) if he will give the nurse-to-patient ratio yearly from 1979 at Law hospital.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThis specific information requested by the hon. Member is not available centrally, but the following table shows the ratio of the number of whole-time equivalent nurses at 30 September of each year to the average number of occupied beds in the year to 30 September in each case:
Year Stonehouse hospital Law hospital 1979 0.8:1 0.8:1 1980 0.8:1 0.8:1 1981 0.9:1 0.8:1 1982 1.0:1 0.9:1 1983 1.1:1 1.0:1 1984 1.1:1 0.9:1 1985 1.1:1 0.9:1 1986 1.1:1 1.0:1 11987 1.1:1 1.0:1 1 31March 1987.