HC Deb 17 April 1961 vol 638 cc64-5W
70. Mr. Charles A. Howell

asked the Minister of Health how many hospitals and how many wards are closed, and how many beds are out of use through lack of nursing staffs, in each regional hospital board area at the latest convenient date; and what steps he proposes to take to obtain the necessary nursing staffs for the new hospitals he intends to build in the future.

Mr. Powell

Figures are available only in terms of "beds unused for lack of staff", i.e., staff of all kinds. The details given below are the regional figures producing the total of 10,417 such beds at the end of 1959 given in my Annual Report which is the latest I have. The new hospitals will largely be in replacement of old; but the numbers of nursing staff continue to increase steadily.

Following are the figures:

Beds unused for lack of staff (England and Wales) at 31st December, 1959
All Regions and Teaching Hospitals 10,417
All Teaching Hospitals 53
Regions:
1. Newcastle 224
2. Leeds 613
3. Sheffield 727
4. East Anglian 214
5. North West Metropolitan 890
6. North East Metropolitan 1,019
7. South East Metropolitan 2,155
8. South West Metropolitan 868
9. Oxford 379
10. South Western 256
11. Wales 453
12. Birmingham 1,137
13. Manchester 1,150
14. Liverpool. 76
15. Wessex 203

71. Mr. Charles A. Howell

asked the Minister of Health what are the numbers of vacancies for ward sisters, nurses, and nursing auxiliaries, respectively, in each regional hospital board area at the latest convenient date; and if, in view of the situation, he will set up a committee to take evidence, both in private and in public, to ascertain the reasons why the nursing profession is not attracting sufficient recruits, and why so many nurses leave the profession.

Mr. Powell

I understand that a total of some 21,000 vacancies for hospital nurses of all grades was current at offices of the Ministry of Labour at 31st December, 1960. A breakdown of this figure by regional hospital areas is not available. The number of staff in post at 30th September, 1960, was the highest ever recorded, and I see no reason for a special inquiry into recruitment and wastage.