§ Dame Irene Wardasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the directive of the South West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board to a hospital to reduce its nursing staff; what action he is taking; and how many beds in the country are unoccupied through shortage of nursing staff.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonThe South West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board recently reduced the nursing establishment of a small number of hospitals and asked the hospital management committees as vacancies occurred, to contain the number of nurses in post within these establishments; I understand that the regional board, as the result of a satisfactory campaign, have recruited some272W 850 additional nurses over the past 12 months. I regret that I am unable to give the number of beds in England and Wales unoccupied through shortage of nursing staff.