HC Deb 17 May 1978 vol 950 cc197-8W
Mr. Patrick Jenkin

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take to meet the shortage of properly qualified nursing staff that has been reported in Liverpool, Newcastle and other areas.

AMBULANCE MEN/WOMEN EMPLOYED BY EACH AMBULANCE SERVICE
1975 1976
Region Ambulance Service Whole-time equivalent Whole-time equivalent per 100,000 population Whole-time equivalent Whole-time equivalent per 100,000 population
England Total … … 13,986.2 30.1 14,137.8 30.5
Northern Regional Total … 1,188.1 38.0 1,189.3 38.1
Northumbria Ambulance Service … 511.1 34.6 515.3 35.0
Cleveland … 228.0 40.3 229.0 40.3
Cumbria … 193.0 40.7 193.0 40.8
Durham … 256.0 42.1 252.0 41.3
Yorkshire Regional Total … 1,149.0 32.1 1,179.4 33.0
Metropolitan Ambulance Service … 694.0 32.6 691.0 32.6
Humberside … 276.0 32.4 282.0 33.2
North Yorkshire … 179.0 30.0 206.4 34.0
Trent Regional Total … 1,388.0 30.7 1,379.5 30.5
Metropolitan Ambulance Service … 344.0 26.1 331.0 25.1
Derbyshire … 314.0 36.5 309.0 36.0
Leicestershire … 223.0 26.7 234.0 27.9
Lincolnshire … 174.0 33.4 180.5 34.4
Nottinghamshire … 333.0 33.9 325.0 33.2
East Anglia Regional Total … 422.0 23.7 444.0 24.6
Cambridgeshire … 126.0 24.2 131.0 24.6
Norfolk … 195.0 25.4 196.0 25.4
Suffolk … 101.0 20.5 117.0 23.5
North West Thames Bedfordshire … 110.0 22.5 104.0 21.2
(Part covered by London Ambulance Service) Herefordshire … 260.0 31.0 262.0 31.3
North East Thames (Part covered by London Ambulance Service). Essex … 437.0 31.0 421.0 29.5
South East Thames East Sussex … 225.5 34.3 215.9 32.9
(Part covered by London Ambulance Service). Kent … 561.0 38.8 566.0 39.1

Mr. Moyle

In both Liverpool and Newcastle the area health authorities are engaged in commissioning large new teaching hospitals. There is no marked shortage in Liverpool. An energetic recruitment campaign is being conducted in Newcastle. Where other areas are also short of qualified nursing staff either in particular specialties or particular hospitals I have no doubt they will also be actively seeking and training staff.