§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the number of nurses employed by agencies in hospitals in the United Kingdom;
(2) what is the number of hospitals in which agency nurses are employed.
§ Mr. CrossmanAt 31st March, 1969, the latest date for which figures are available, 1,801 agency nurses were employed in 251 National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales.
§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the weekly cost over and above that which would be payable to nursing staff on the basis of the remuneration laid down by the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council.
§ Mr. CrossmanThe cost of agency nurses depends on the charges of the different agencies, which vary considerably, but in many cases the difference is small when account is taken of the Whitley Council's paid sick leave, holiday and superannuation provisions.