§ 13. Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the level of public response to his recent encouragement of the use of volunteers in hospitals affected by industrial disputes.
§ 62. Mr. Montgomeryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the use of volunteers to maintain services in National Health Service hospitals.
§ Mr. EnnalsThroughout the recent disputes, Health Service management and staff have done sterling work in maintaining essential services, where services would otherwise have been threatened by the industrial action. We have had reports of volunteers giving help in hospitals in 32 of 199 health districts in England, and in maintaining emergency ambulance services in eight of the 45 ambulance authorities.