Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps she is taking to prevent the closure of a children's ward at Tatchbury Mount Hospital and the transfer of some of the children to an adult ward; and if she will make a statement on staff shortages at this hospital.
§ Dr. OwenDue in part to staff shortages and in part to industrial action by nurses it became necessary to close a ward for adolescent patients last Saturday. The ward was, however, reopened on Sunday when industrial action ceased.
The staffing position at Tatchbury Mount Hospital is as follows:
Category Establishment In post Nurses 181 161 Ancillary 136 104 Professional and Technical 22 18 There is a severe shortage of fully trained nursing staff; out of an establishment of 25 fully trained staff only 12 are in post.
Management, in consultation with staff, is currently reviewing the nursing establishment and the balance between trained and untrained nursing staff with a view to improving them. It is also examining whether transport services to the hospital are adequate and whether improving them will help recruitment of staff.