§ Mr. Muddasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will classify, according to numbers and types of duty, the current staff shortage at Barncoose Hospital, Redruth, identify the reason for the shortage, outline the effects of this shortage on the manning of the hospital, and indicate the steps that are being taken to restore the hospital to full working capacity.
§ Mr. AlisonCurrent vacancies for staff are as follows:
Nursing staff Trained 4½ Untrained 6 Domestic staff 21½ Occupational therapists Senior grade 2 Basic grade 3½ There is a shortage of female nursing staff both trained and untrained in Cornwall and an increase in the availability of jobs in light industry for young women particularly in the Camborne/Redruth area makes recruitment difficult for nursing auxiliary and domestic posts. The hospital management committee has had poor response to nationally placed advertisements for nursing staff and from nursing agencies for trained staff. The shortage of occupational therapists is a national problem.
It has been necessary to close one ward of 19 beds because of the staff shortages and some occupational therapy work has been restricted.
The hospital management committee will continue to advertise the vacancies as appropriate in the national and local Press. An appeal was made recently to the wives of Servicemen at a nearby naval air station to consider employment at the hospital.