HC Deb 12 February 1979 vol 962 cc398-9W
Sir Nigel Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will make a national appeal for volunteers to come forward to help run the hospitals;

(2) if he will ask hospital authorities to accept volunteers to help in keeping their hospitals running.

Mr. Moyle

There is a long and valued tradition of voluntary help in hospitals. Some volunteers are members of organisations, while others offer their services direct to health authorities' voluntary service co-ordinators. Leaders of interested national voluntary organisations have indicated that they would not want action taken in the short term which might be prejudicial to the long term interests of the voluntary movement.

Many people are offering health authorities help to maintain essential services. I am sure that authorities will note their names in case of need. No national appeal is necessary.

Mr. Silvester

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take action to ensure that lightning strikes undertaken by hospital workers without warning can be avoided.

Mr. Ennals

I deprecate any form of industrial action which endangers the welfare of patients and have discussed this issue with representatives of the National Health Service unions involved in the current dispute. They have given assurances that action will not endanger emergency services. Reports show that, in general, these services are being safeguarded. I have also discussed with the unions and representatives of the main professions the possibility of some form of standing code of practice to govern industrial action in the National Health Service; but it has not so far been possible to achieve agreement on detailed national procedures or guidelines which would be generally suitable in local circumstances.

I am proposing, however, to continue discussions with the unions in the hope of reaching eventual agreement to contain industrial action in the National Health Service.