§ Mr. Norman Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the average bed occupancy at the Prince of Wales hospital, London N.15 and the St. Ann's hospital, London N.17 during January and February; and, if it was less than January and February 1979, what are the reasons;
(2) if he will list the length of waiting time for all the main hospital specialties at both the Prince of Wales and the St. Ann's hospitals and in the Haringey health area generally;
(3) what percentage of the nursing staff employed by the National Health Service at the Prince of Wales hospital, St. Ann's hospital and the North Middlesex hospital in the Enfield and Haringey area health authority area are engaged through an agency.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe information requested is not available centrally. The hon. Member may like to approach the Enfield and Haringey area health authority direct.
§ Mr. Norman Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects work to begin on the two new operating theatres at St. Ann's hospital, Tottenham, London; when he expects all the new surgical facilities at St. Ann's hospital to be fully operational; and if he will set out the budget implications for the next three years.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe information requested is not available centrally. The hon. Member may like to approach the North East Thames regional health authority direct.
§ Mr. Norman Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that the statement made by his predecessor on 6 March 1981, following a visit to the Prince of Wales hospital, London N15, that no rundown in the services provided by the hospital should be allowed before the coming into existence of the new district health authority in April 1982 has been full adhered to, and that the staff and bed occupancy remain the same as between the date of the statement and the present day.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergIn March 1981 my hon. Friend, the former Minister for Health, approved stage 1 of the Haringey district strategy, which involved some changes in the services provided at the Prince of Wales hospital and said that there should be no further rundown 163W in the services at this hospital until the new district health authority had had an opportunity to rethink completely how the health service should be developed and what the role of the hospital should be. I have been assured that the health authorities are adhering to these decisions. Information on current staff and bed occupancy is not available centrally and the hon. Member may like to approach the Enfield and Haringey area health authority direct.
§ Mr. Norman Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the fact that there are no chemical pathology, microbiology, haemotology or histopathology laboratories in operation at the Prince of Wales hospital, London N15, he will take steps to remedy this situation.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergI understand these services are provided at the district pathology laboratories at the North Middlesex hospital. It will be for the new Haringey health authority to consider whether any changes in these arrangements are necessary.
§ Mr. Norman Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what reasons were given by the Central Nursing Council for the ending of nurse training at the Prince of Wales hospital, London N15; and if this decision has been accepted by both the North-East Thames regional health authority and himself.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergApproval of institutions for nurse training is the duty of the General Nursing Council for England and Wales, and it is for the area health authority concerned to consider the council's recommendations.