§ Mr. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the shortage of nursing staff in west Fife; that the regional hospital board has refused permission for the hospital authorities to advertise in the Press; and what steps he intends to take to remedy this situation.
§ Mr. Nixon BrowneI understand there is a temporary nursing shortage in one hospital in the West Fife group owing to a seasonal increase in the number of infectious cases. There is no objection to advertising in the lay Press for untrained staff, or for trained nurses not at present engaged in nursing who may be available locally for part-time service. A recent survey carried out by my Department showed that advertisement in 105W the lay Press for full-time nurses is virtually no more effective than advertisement in the nursing Press, and is generally much more costly.