§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the adequacy of the hospital physiotherapy service in the Portsmouth area and on the action which he is taking to combat current staff shortages.
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§ Mr. AlisonI am aware that the Portsmouth Group Hospital Management Committee would like to employ more physiotherapists, and I am satisfied that it is taking steps to improve recruitment—for example, by offering flexible hours and by planning refresher courses for married women. The physiotherapy departments of the Royal Portsmouth and Queen Alexandra Hospitals have been amalgamated to provide better cover, and full use is being made of physiotherapy helpers.