Domiciliary Services (Cambridgeshire)

HC Deb 30 June 1976 vol 914 cc208-9W

Mr. Ward

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the provision of health visitors, home nurses, and midwives in Cambridgeshire; and how many there were in each speciality per 1,000 of population compared with the average for England and Wales.

Mr. Deakins

The lastest available figures relate to March 1975, when in terms of whole-time equivalents the figures were as follows:

	Numbers per thousand population
	Cambridge shire	England and Wales
Health Visitors	0.13	0.14
Home Nurses	0.20	0.24
Domiciliary Midwives	0.07	0.07
Other SRNs and SENs in the Community	0.04	0.03
Hospital Midwives	0.37	0.33

Though the figures for health visitors and home nurses are below the national average, it is hoped that in the light of guidance in the consultative document on priorities it will be possible to achieve a more favourable staffing ratio.