§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated shortage of trained nurses in National Health Service hospitals; and how many wards or hospital departments are closed because of such shortages.
§ Dr. OwenNo realistic estimate of the overall shortage of trained nurses in National Health Service hospitals is available. Individual health authorities are themselves responsible for assessing the nurse staffing requirements of the hospitals they administer and for setting the standards they apply for this purpose.
Hospital Nursing Establishment Nursing Staff in post (Whole time equivalent) 1. Workshop and Retford District Victoria Hospital … … … 180 126 Kilton Hospital … … … 170 153 Carlton Hospital … … … 38 35 Retford Hospital … … … 35 34 2. Mansfield and Newark District Kings Mill Hospital … … … 315 263 Mansfield General Hospital … … … 133 128 Victoria Hospital … … … 149 135 Ransom Hospital … … … 65 60 Newstead Hospital … … … 83 73 Langwith Lodge Diabetic Unit … … … 12 12 Harlow Wood Orthopaedic Hospital … … … 94 89 Forest Hospital … … … 57 52 Debdale Hall Hospital … … … 25 19 Balderton Hospital … … … 200 200 Newark General Hospital … … … 78 73 Newark Hawtonville Hospital … … … 90 90 Berry Hill Rehabilitation Centre … … … 1 1 Nurse Education (including learners) and nursing administration 257 271 3. North Nottingham District Nottingham City Hospital … … … 875 920 Firs Maternity Hospital … … … 55 48 Ellerslie House … … … 15 9 Basford Hospital … … … 68 62 Sherwood Hospital … … … 314 235 Westdale Hospital … … … 30 30 St. Annes Hospital … … … 46 47 St. Francis Hospital … … … 99 90 Mapperley Hospital … … … 301 267 The Coppice Hospital … … … 50 44 4. South Nottingham District Nottingham General Hospital (including Ruddington Hall) 460 467 The Cedars … … … 57 55 Nottingham Eye Hospital … … … 35 36 Highbury Hospital … … … 130 134 Childrens Hospital … … … 95 84 Womens Hospital (including Adbolton) … … … 128 124 Saxondale Hospital … … … 214 209 Education including learners … … … 404 391 Administration … … … 11 9 Recruitment of nursing staff is a matter for the area health authority but
96WHospital wards or departments may have to be closed for a number of reasons and figures are not available to show the number closed specifically because of a shortage of trained nurses.
§ Mr. Whitlockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the recognised establishments of nurses in each of the hospitals of the Nottingham Area Health Authority; what are the numbers at present on strength at each of the hospitals; and what steps are being taken to recruit more nurses.
§ Dr. OwenRecognised nursing establishments and numbers of nurses in post —including students and pupils—on 1st April 1974 at hospitals in the area of the Nottinghamshire AHA(T) are:
I understand that campaigns are in progress to recruit more nurses.
97W
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what representations she has received from the Royal College of Nursing, and individual members, regarding the system of Whitley Council negotiations; and if she will examine possible alternatives to this system for negotiating nurses' pay;
if she is prepared to meet a deputation from the Royal College of Nursing to discuss their grievances regarding the way in which their pay is fixed, and the way conditions, prospects and recruitment to the nursing profession are examined; and if she will make a statement;
(2)what representations she has received from the Royal College of Nursing regarding the declining morale in the nursing profession; what steps she intends taking to improve morale; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. OwenAs my right hon. Friend informed the House in reply to a Question from the right hon. and learned Member for Surrey, East (Sir G. Howe) on 14th May—[Vol. 873, c. 1108–14.]— she saw a deputation from the Royal College of Nursing and promised them to meet the Staff Side of the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council in three weeks' time to answer their request for an independent inquiry into nurses' pay.
The delay by the previous Government in announcing a decision on the Briggs Report had seriously affected morale and the Royal College warmly welcomed the Government's decision to accept its main recommendations. My right hon. Friend has promised a further statement on timing as soon as possible.
The Royal College also drew attention to a number of other factors affecting morale including increased intensity of pressure of work and working conditions. My right hon. Friend has asked officers of the Department to review urgently what steps can be taken to alleviate the situation.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what central guidance on methods of stimulating recruitment of nurses she will give to area health authorities.
§ Dr. OwenMy Department is continuing to provide background support98W to the recruitment activities of National Health Service employing authorities by publicity campaigns in the national Press and cinemas, production of posters, brochures and films and provision of exhibition material. The total number— in whole-time equivalent terms—of nursing and midwifery staff in the National Health Service in England rose by nearly 5,000 in the year ended 30th September 1973.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will give the comparative cost per hour, per eight hours, per normal working week, per weekend, for employing National Health Service and agency nurses; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. OwenComprehensive information is not available in the form requested. Comparison of the cost of employing an agency nurse and a National Health Service nurse is affected by such variable factors as the charge made by the particular agency, the point that the National Health Service nurse has reached on the salary scale and the elements of cost other than salary for the National Health Service nurse.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the shortage of nurses she will take the appropriate steps to bring nurses back into the National Health Service from service with private agencies; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. OwenNurses choose agency work for a variety of reasons. I am considering how and to what extent these might be met by direct employment in the National Health Service.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will give the proportion of employment time of agency employed nurses as distinct from National Health Service nurses, for the following years: 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971 and 1973; if she intends taking any action to change this trend; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. OwenThe following table relates to National Health Service hospitals in England: 99W Agency nurses and midwives as a percentage of total qualified nurses and midwives (in whole-time equivalent terms) at 30th September
1965 … … … … 1.2 1967 … … … … 1.2 1969 … … … … 1.8 1971 … … … … 2.5 1973 … … … … 3.1 I am currently reviewing the use of agency nurses in the National Health Service.