HC Deb 24 June 1976 vol 913 cc632-6W
Mrs. Joyce Butler

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many district nurses are in post in each of the health districts of Greater London; how the number in post in each case compares with the minimum and ideal staffing norms laid down by his Department; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with the situation wherever the number of nurses in post falls short of his Department's minimum;

(2) how many midwives are in post in each of the health districts of Greater London; how the number in post in each case compares with the minimum and ideal staffing norms laid down by his Department; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with the situation wherever the number of health visitors in post falls short of his Department's minimum;

(3) how many health visitors are in post in each of the health districts of Greater London; how the number in post in each case compares with the minimum and ideal norms laid down by his Department; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with the situation wherever the number of health visitors in post falls short of his Department's minimum.

Mr. Deakins

Information about staff in post is set out below. Minimum or ideal staffing norms have not been publised and would not be appropriate because of the complexity of local factors which affect the nature of the services required. My reply to my hon. Friend on 16th June—[Vol. 913, c.195–6]—explained the guidance on health visitors given in Circular 13/72, which also suggested that the desirable ratio of home nurses to population might vary from 1:4,000 to 1:2,500, depending on local needs and the availability of ancillary support. No comparable guidance has been issued in respect of midwifery. The employment and deployment of these categories of staff is a matter for the health authorities, having regard to the proposals in the recently published consultation document on Priorities for Health and Personal Social Services in England and to local needs and priorities.

District Nurses Qualified Health Visitors Midwives (Hospital and Community)
Area District SRN and SEN with DN Certificate Ratio to population Other SRN and SEN in support Number of staff in post (whole-time equivalent) Ratio to population Number of staff in post (whole-time equivalent) Ratio to population
Greenwich and Bexley Greenwich … 68.7 1:3,098 8.5 46.0 1:4,626 170.8 1:1,246
Bexley … 58.2 1:3,727 10.3 25.8 1:8,407 95.8 1:2,264
Bromley Bromley … 36.5 1:8,260 17.0 47.3 1:6,374 172.4 1:1,749
Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Guys … 39.0 1:3,846 10.5 27.8 1:5,396 58.1 1:2,582
Kings … 48.2 1:5,162 13.0 38.4 1:6,479 11.51 1:2,162
St. Thomas … 50.0 1:3,892 9.0 32.0 1:6,081 107.5 1:1,810
Lewisham … 59.6 1:3,300 4.0 31.3 1:6,284 102.5 1:1,919
Croydon Croydon … 65.0 1:4,969 21.0 46.0 1:7,022 101.0 1:3,198
Kingston and Richmond Kingston and Richmond … 52.0 1:4,719 53.0 61.0 1:4,023 52.0 1:4,719
Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth Roehampton … 17.0 1:6,475 8.0 10.0 1:11,007 41.6 1:2,646
Wandsworth and East Merton … 43.0 1:6,078 11.0 44.0 1:5,940 109.5 1:2,387
Sutton and West Merton … 56.0 1:5,321 11.0 41.0 1:7,267 71.3 1:4,179
Barking and Havering Barking … 32.5 1:4,855 16.20 17.80 1:8,865 81.8 1:1,930
Havering … 48.0 1:5,067 — 22.5 1:10,832 59.2 1:4,108
City and East London City and Hackney … 31.6 1:6,750 30.9 19.2 1:11,109 130.5 1:1,634
Newham … 67.2 1:3,432 25.1 36.6 1:6,300 69.0 1:3,342
Tower Hamlets … 28.0 1:5,357 1.9 19.6 1:7,653 78.0 1:1,923
Enfield and Haringey Enfield … 37.2 1:7,089 24.8 30.9 1:8,547 60.5 1:4,359
Haringey … 32.0 1:7,150 7.8 31.80 1:7,356 72.2 1:3,169
Redbridge an d Waltham Forest East Roding … 39.5 1:4,466 10.0 25.80 1:6,837 68.5 1:2,575
West Roding … 75.3 1:3,845 — 35.1 1:8,236 79.4 1:3,646

District Nurses Qualified Health Visitors Midwives (Hospital and Community)
Area District SRN and SEN with DN Certificate Ratio to population Other SRN and SEN in support Number of staff in post (whole-time equivalent) Ratio to population Number of staff in post (whole-time equivalent) Ratio to population
Camden and Islington (Teaching) North Camden … … 29.7 1:3,613 13.3 29.4 1:3,649 41.1 1:2,611
South Camden … … 30.5 1:2,764 4.7 26.7 1:3,157 85.7 1:984
Islington … … 55.4 1:3,227 4.6 28.5 1:6,273 85.4 1:2,094
Barnet Barnet/Finchley … … 22.5 1:9,443 5.2 *22.0 1:9,657 36.9 1:5,758
Edgware/Hendon … … 22.6 1:8,672 10.5 *21.9 1:8,949 68.3 1:2,870
Brent and Harrow Brent … … 31.0 1:6,675 20.8 *22.5 1:9,196 45.8 1:4,518
Harrow … … 27.0 1:7,817 14.7 *39.6 1:5,330 82.5 1:2,558
Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow Hounslow … … 37.5 1:5,495 11.4 *38.2 1:5,395 59.5 1:3,464
South Hammersmith … … 30.5 1:4,817 13.0 *30.1 1:4,881 30.7 1:4,786
North Hammersmith … … 22.0 1:4,749 8.6 *16.9 1:6,182 44.8 1:2,332
Ealing … … 40.3 1:5,255 22.9 *33.l 1:6,398 52.9 1:4,003
Hillingdon Hillingdon … … 34.3 1:6,778 30.2 *36.0 1:6,458 73.8 1:3,150
Kensington, Chelsea an d Westminster. North West … … 30.4 1:5,420 18.0 *26.8 1:6,148 96.3 1:1,711
North East … … 13.7 1:5,565 3.7 *10.5 1:7,261 23.5 1:3,244
South … … 33.5 1:5,097 9.0 *18.1 1:9,434 73.8 1:2,314

Notes:

1. Figures are whole-time equivalents as at 31st March 1976.

2. The figures marked * exclude health visitors employed in the school health service. In other cases this separation could not readily be made and the figures are therefore not comparable with the Circular 13/72 suggestions.

3. The midwifery figures are total numbers employed, including hospital as well as domicilary staff.

4. All figures exclude students and pupils.