§ 57. Mr. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the Northern Hospital, Dunfermline, has only 47 nurses as against the national average per 100 patients of 64; that a similar unfavourable comparison is seen in administrative and clerical staff; and whether he will take immediate action to improve the situation.
§ Mr. J. StuartThis hospital does not deal with surgical patients, and has a considerable proportion of chronic sick patients; accordingly a ratio of nurse staffing below the Scottish average for general hospitals of comparable size is natural. As regards administrative and clerical staff, local differences in organisation of hospital groups invalidate comparisons of this kind. I do not consider that any action on my part is called for.