HC Deb 30 May 1960 vol 624 c99W
74. Dr. D. Johnson

asked the Minister of Health on how many occasions his Standing Advisory Committee on the Nursing Services met during 1959; and what advice it tendered to him on the problem of the shortage of nurses.

Mr. Walker-Smith

The Standing Nursing Advisory Committee met twice in 1959. It tendered no advice on the shortage of nursing staff, but on this subject I look mainly to the National Consultative Council on the Recruitment of Nurses and Midwives. A Report by the Council on the distribution of nursing and midwifery staff, containing suggestions for improving distribution and recruitment to the less well-staffed hospitals, was circulated to hospital authorities in January, 1959.

Mr. Hale

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that a new hospital ward in Oldham is unable to operate due to shortage of nurses; and what steps he proposes to take.

Mr. Walker-Smith

Yes. I understand that a special committee of the Oldham and District Hospital Management Committee, which had previously been appointed to consider other matters in relation to nurse recruitment, is now considering ways and means of obtaining staff which would make possible the opening of the additional beds.