§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what study he has made of the effectiveness of deputising services provided by family practitioners; what plans he has to bring these deputising services into the ambit of the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleI am satisfied that these deputising services can be effective in providing, in certain areas, part of the services patients need from general medical practitioners, but the arrangements for supervision of the services need to be strengthened to ensure a satisfactory standard in all the areas concerned. Before using a deputising service a family 61W doctor must obtain the permission of the family practitioner committee which may impose conditions to ensure that the arrangements are adequate. My Department has recently completed consultations on the establishment of professional advisory committees to advise family practitioner committees, and on a code of practice to be followed by the deputising services. These are now under consideration.
Hospital Number of Theatres Establishment Shortfall Central Middlesex … 5 1 nursing officer. 8.8 charge nurses. 4.1 staff nurses. 2 staff nurses. 2 3 charge nurses. (part of Accident Emergency Department) 3 staff nurses. 1 staff nurse. 1 Staff are drawn from the 30 midwives in the Maternity Department. 2.4 midwives. (part of Maternity Department) Wembley … 2 1.75 sisters. 3 staff nurses. .75 sister. Northwick Park … 13 32 full-time trained nurses. 1 full-time trained nurse The Area Health Authority is making arrangements to fill the vacancies.