§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what staff are specifically employed on X-ray examinations at the Barnsley General Hospital and the Beckett Hospital, respectively;
(2) what consultant time is allocated to the Barnsley General Hospital and the Beckett Hospital in respect of Xray examinations;(3) in view of the fact that 250 patients have been waiting more than 24 weeks at the Beckett Hospital, Barnsley, for X-ray examinations, if he will, as a matter of urgency, increase the staffing and consultant time with a view to reducing this long waiting list as soon as possible.
§ Mr. AlisonThere are seven radiographers employed at the Beckett Hospital, including one who works half time at the Chest Clinic, and three at the Barnsley District General Hospital. The former hospital is allocated eleven consultant radiologists sessions and the latter six.
The Regional Hospital Board is about to advertise for a full-time locum radiologist to work at both hospitals. This is a temporary arrangement, pending the results of the investigation to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member on 21st June.—[Vol. 819, c. 203–4.]