§ 62. Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will inquire into the circumstances in which wards at Worksop Victoria Hospital have had to close due to shortage of staff; and whether he will take steps to recruit nurses and staff to fill these jobs from personnel who recently retired in the last two years.
§ Mr. MoyleThe Nottinghamshire Area Health Authority (Teaching) has already made urgent inquiries and is satisfied that the problem is short-term. Local action is being taken to recruit more nursing staff. The AHA(T) is also reviewing the district nurse staffing position. The recruitment of nurses is a matter for the AHA(T), which has not thought it necessary to ask nurses who have already retired to return.