§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has investigated the number of operations that have been delayed, postponed, or cancelled because of strikes by nurses at the Greenwich District Hospital, London and by electricians in the Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbing Union at hospitals throughout Great Britain; and if he will publish the results of these investigations.
§ Mr. MoyleFor the period 15th June to 30th June, 127 non-urgent surgical admissions to Greenwich District Hospital were postponed as a result of the industrial action by theatre staff.
There are numerous reasons for non-urgent operations being postponed or cancelled, some of which will be related to industrial action and many which will not. I do not think it would be desirable or productive to initiate general inquiries of all health authorities in England in relation to the recent action by hospital electricians; nor would the cost be justified.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many operations have been cancelled and what other disruption has occurred as a 66W result of the strike at the West London Hospital, Hammersmith, by members of the National Union of Public Employees, catering staff, boilermen and porters.
§ Mr. MoyleTwenty-six operations were cancelled, and non-urgent gynaecological and rehabilitation admissions were stopped. In addition, cleaning services were disrupted.