§ Mr. Gristasked the Secretary of State for Wales by how many the number of (a) radiographers, (b) physiotherapists 154W and (c) occupational therapists in National Health Service employment falls short of establishment in Wales and South Glamorgan Area Health Authority, respectively.
§ Mr. John MorrisStaffing levels for these classes of staff are matters for individual employing authorities and no central record of establishments is maintained. An inquiry undertaken in 1973 showed that at 30th September 1973 the numbers of radiographers, physiotherapists and occupational therapists in post in the health service in Wales, and the number of vacancies at that date, were, in whole-time equivalents:
In post vacancies Radiographers … 326.5 51.0 Physiotherapists … 246.0 69.5 Occupational therapists … 89.0 46.5 I understand that the South Glamorgan Area Health Authority has 118 radiographers, 72.5 physiotherapists and 35.8 occupational therapists in post at the present time and 18.3, 36.6 and 7.8 vacancies respectively (whole-time equivalents).
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what representations he has received from the Society of Radiographers, and individual radiographers, regarding the system of Whitley Council negotiations; and if he will examine possible alternatives to this system for negotiating radiographers' pay;
(2)what representations he has received from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and individual physiotherapists regarding the system of Whitley Council negotiations; and if he will examine possible alternatives to this system for negotiating physiotherapists' pay;
(3)what representations he has received from the Association of Occupational Therapists and individual occupational therapists regarding the system of Whitley Council negotiations; and if he will examine possible alternatives to this system for negotiating occupational therapists' pay.
§ Mr. John MorrisI have had no representations from the professional bodies but I have had a letter from an individual physiotherapist.
155WThe National Health Service Whitley Councils were set up by voluntary agreement between staff and management; changes may be proposed in the councils by either side but, in conjunction with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Social Services and the Secretary of State for Scotland, I am willing to consider any proposals the staff side may wish to put forward.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he is prepared to meet a deputation from the Society of Radiographers to discuss their grievances regarding the way in which their pay is fixed, and the way pay, conditions, prospects and recruitment to the radiography profession are examined; and if he will make a statement;
(2)if he is prepared to meet a deputation from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy to discuss their grievances regarding the way in which their pay is fixed, and the way conditions, prospects and recruitment to the physiotherapy profession are examined; and if he will make a statement;
(3)if he is prepared to meet a deputation from the Association of Occupational Therapists to discuss their grievances regarding the way in which their pay is fixed, and the way conditions, prospects and recruitment to the occupational therapists profession are examined; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MorrisIf the staff side, on which all these professional bodies are represented, would like to meet a Welsh Office Minister, I would be glad to make arrangements for this.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what representations he has received from the Society of Radiographers regarding the declining morale in the profession; what steps he intends taking to improve morale; and if he will make a statement;
(2)what representations he has received from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy regarding the declining morale in the profession; what steps he intends taking to improve morale; and if he will make a statement;
(3)what representations he has received from the Association of Occupational Therapists regarding the declining morale 156W in the profession; what steps he intends taking to improving morale; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MorrisI have had no representations from these professional bodies, though I am aware of the concern within the professions.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services has written to the chairman of the staff side of the Whitley Council on which these bodies are represented about measures that would enable consideration of desirable developments in their role and structure to be pursued.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what central guidance on methods of stimulating recruit-men of radiographers in Wales he is now considering;
(2)in view of the grave shortage of radiographers, what central guidance on methods of bringing radiographers back into the National Health Service from service with private agencies he will give to area health authorities in Wales;
(3)what central guidance on methods of stimulating recruitment of physiotherapists he is now considering;
(3)view of the shortage of physiotherapists, what central guidance on methods of bringing physiotherapists back into the National Health Service from service with private agencies he will give to area health authorities;
what central guidance on methods of stimulating recruitment of occupational therapists he is now considering;
in view of the grave shortage of occupational therapists, what central guidance on methods of bringing occupational therapists back into the National Health Service as distinct from service with private agencies he will give area health authorities.
§ Mr. John MorrisMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services and I are examining ways of obtaining new recruits to these and other professions and of bringing qualified staff back into National Health Service employment. In particular we are reviewing the current methods of advertising for a range of National Health Service careers and are considering how facilities for staff who can only work part time might be improved.
157W
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will give the comparative cost per hour, per eight hours, per normal working week, per weekend, for employing National Health Service and agency radiographers, respectively; and if he will make a statement;
(2)if he will give the comparative cost per hour, per eight hours, per normal working week, per weekend, for employing National Health Service and agency physiotherapists, respectively; and if he will make a statement;
(3)if he will give the comparative cost per hour, per eight hours, per normal working week, per weekend, for employing National Health Service and agency occupational therapists, respectively; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MorrisThe National Health Service in Wales has had no experience of agency radiographers, physiotherapists or occupational therapists on which such comparisons could be made.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will give the proportion of employment time of agency-employed radiographers as dinstinct from National Health Service radiographers for the following years: 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971 and 1973; if he intends taking any action to change this trend; and if he will make a statement;
(2)if he will give the proportion of employment time of agency-employed physiotherapists as distinct from National Health Service physiotherapists for the following years: 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971 and 1973; if he intends taking any action to change this trend; and if he will make a statement;
(3)if he will give the proportion of employment time of agency-employed occupational therapists as distinct from National Health Service occupational therapists for the following years: 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971 and 1973; if he intends taking any action to change this trend; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MorrisSo far as I am aware no agency radiographers, physiotherapists or occupational therapists were employed in the National Health Service in Wales in the years in question.