§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many days in the month of February a go-slow or other form of industrial action was in being at the Southampton General Hospital in respect of catering staff.
§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the extent of the nursing shortage at the Southampton General Hospital.
§ Mr. MoyleThere are five vacancies for trained theatre nurses and six vacancies for trained operating department assistants out of establishments of 47.67 and 12—whole-time equivalents—respectively.
806WThis situation is the result of longstanding difficulties which have been experienced by the Southampton and South West Hampshire health district in recruiting trained nursing staff, particularly theatre staff.
§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many days in February the X-day apparatus was out of action whether on account of technical or other breakdown at the Southampton General Hospital.
§ Mr. MoyleNo full days were lost, and there were no significant breakdowns. The minor breakdowns which occurred did not lead to a reduction in the service to patients.
§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services on how many days in the last two months was there a go-slow by telephone or switchboard employees at the Southampton General Hospital; what assessment he has made of the risk to life and anxieties caused to relatives by such measures; what remedial action he proposes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleUnofficial industrial action started on 14th February and is continuing. Hampshire Area Health Authority (Teaching) does not consider that there is risk to life, since there are adequate arrangements to deal with emergency calls. The authority is in daily contact with the local Press, radio and television, who are keeping the public informed to allay anxiety.
The action is in protest about pay and conditions of service. These are matters for the Ancillary Staffs Whitley Council. The Whitley Council has had a report on the grading of these staff and this will be the subject of further meetings between the two sides. The telephonists, however, have already benefited, with other ancillaries, from the recent pay settlement within the pay policy guidelines.
§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services on how many days in the last two months there was a go-slow or industrial action by the ambulance services at the Southampton General Hospital; what assessment he has made of the risk to life and anxieties caused to relatives by such measures; 807W what remedial action he proposes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleThe industrial action banning overtime lasted for seven days. Hampshire Area Health Authority (Teaching) does not consider that there was risk to life since emergency services were maintained, and this fact was made known in the local Press to allay any public anxiety.
The dispute arose over the introduction of controls on the amount of overtime worked with a view to ensuring that the hours worked by ambulancemen/women did not exceed those laid down in legislation. Following negotiation the staff accepted the controls.