§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the number of hospital nurses per 1,000 population in the Greater Manchester region in the years 1977, 1978 and 1979; and how this compares with England and Wales over the same period;
(2) what was the number of hospital nurses per 1,000 population in the Yorkshire region for the years 1978 and 1979; and how this compares with the numbers for England and Wales over the same period.
§ Sir George Young[pursuant to his reply, 15 February 1980, c. 843]: The information requested is given in the table below. Figures for 1979 are not yet available. Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county which, together with the administrative county of Lancashire, forms the whole of North Western region.
136Wperiod of three years. In September 1975, the Salvation Army opened a detoxification centre at Tower Hamlets, London, towards whose costs the Department contributes. As regards the costs of these centres, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Tooting (Mr. Cox) on 11 June 1979.—[Vol 968, c. 93–4.] The numbers admitted to each centre and their length of stay is as follows:
Greater Manchester contains within its boundaries the following area health authorities: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan.
Responsibility for the health service in Wales rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
Ratios of hospital nurses to 1,000 population* 1977— England 6.19 Greater Manchester Metropolitan County 5.81 Yorkshire Region 6.26 1978— England 6.31 Greater Manchester Metropolitan County 5.89 Yorkshire Region 6.32 * Includes both qualified and unqualified nursing staff but excludes midwives and agency staff working in NHS hospitals.