§ Commander Donaldsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he is aware of the shortage of nursing staff for the Border Hospitals; and what steps are being taken to obtain recruits for the nursing services;
(2) if he is aware that in the current year there are only four recruits enrolled for the Peel Hospital Nurses Training School, that only two have applied for admission to the April session, and that no applications have been received for the course commencing in October; and if he will now give wide and sustained publicity to this school and the advantages available to those who enrol.
§ Mr. J. StuartThe only hospital in this group where the admission of patients is restricted by shortage of nursing staff 217W is Peel Hospital. This hospital aims to recruit twelve student nurses three times a year, and I am aware that four recruits only were enrolled in January. For the April intake, six candidates have now been accepted, and already a further four have been accepted for enrolment in September.
The hospital authorities have taken steps in recent weeks to make the training facilities at the hospital better known throughout the Borders. The figures I have given for April and September enrolments show the improvement already achieved since my hon. and gallant Friend obtained his information, and I welcome this opportunity of drawing the attention of potential recruits in the area to the training facilities this hospital affords.