§ Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many mental nurses are employed in Scottish mental and mental deficiency institutions; and if he will give an estimate of the number required if a ratio of one nurse to five mental patients and one nurse to six mental deficiency patients were maintained.
§ Mr. J. StuartThe total numbers of nursing staff of all types at 30th September, 1955, the latest date for which complete information is available, were 4,487 at mental hospitals and 854 at mental deficiency hospitals. These exceeded, by 389 and 94 respectively, the numbers required to maintain in the aggregate the staffing ratios mentioned. There are of course variations between individual hospitals, not all of which reach these standards of staffing.
§ Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the difference in remuneration between mental nurses employed in State mental institutions and mental and mental deficiency nurses in Scottish hospitals under the National Health Services.
§ Mr. J. StuartRegistered mental nurses employed in State mental institutions receive £90 per annum above the Whitley Council scales for registered mental and mental deficiency nurses in hospitals within the National Health Service.