§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on current levels of(a) nursing and (b) cleaning staff at East Surrey hospital. [118255]
619W
§ Ms StuartThe latest available levels of nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff at Surrey and Sussex National Health Service Trust is given in the table.
NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): Nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff within Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, as at 30 September 1998 Whole time equivalent Numbers(headcount) All Nursing, Midwifery and Health visiting staff 1,240 1,670 Notes:
- 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10
- 2. Figures exclude learners and agency staff
Source:
Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census
The East Surrey health authority is responsible for ensuring that the quality of care for those being treated at East Surrey hospital is satisfactory. The Surrey and Sussex Healthcare National Health Service Trust is looking at ways of improving the recruitment and retention of nursing staff in line with national recruitment and retention strategy.
The number of whole time equivalent ancillary staff (which covers cleaning staff) is 269. The number of vacancies at March 2000 was 30.
New guidelines to ensure cleanliness on hospital wards—"Standards for Environmental Cleanliness in Hospitals"—will be issued to all National Health Service trusts shortly which complement the new framework for managing hospital acquired infection. The progress of NHS hospitals at meeting the new framework will be independently assessed locally by auditors, and nationally by the Commission for Health Improvement and the Audit Commission.