§ 70. Mr. W. R. Williamsasked the Minister of Health the number of beds at present available in hospitals under the control of the Manchester Regional Hospitals Board; and how this compares with the number available during 1955 and 1956, respectively.
§ Mr. Vaughan-MorganThe number of staffed beds at 31st March last—the latest available figure—was 43,307, compared with 43,158 at 31st December, 1955, and 43,196 at 31st December, 1956.
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§ 71. Mr. W. R. Williamsasked the Minister of Health to what extent the present nursing staff in hospitals under the control of the Manchester Regional Hospitals Board falls below the authorised establishment.
§ Mr. Vaughan-MorganThe staff numbers are short of the authorised establishment by 812.
§ 72. Mr. W. R. Williamsasked the Minister of Health whether he will discuss with the Manchester Regional Hospitals Board the need to build a new hospital in North Manchester or, alternatively, to add new blocks to some of the existing hospitals in that area.
§ Mr. Vaughan-MorganI understand that the Board takes the view that there are more urgent needs in other parts of this area, and it proposes to meet these first.