§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if registers are kept within National Health 480W Service hospitals and other establishments of goods in and goods out; and how many staff are employed in this connection.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergIt is common practice for health authorities to maintain registers of goods received and stores control records; but it is known that movements of articles in use are frequently not documented and recent guidance has called for much more stringent security strategies to be developed. Information about the number of staff employed on this work is not available centrally.
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has considered the announcement of the chairman of the North West Thames regional health authority about the provision of resources for the Health Service, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Brent, South; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe total revenue allocation, including joint finance, made to North West Thames regional health authority for the financial year 1983–84 is £663.743 million. This total takes account of efficiency savings of 0.5 per cent. amounting to £3.308 million, which the regional health authority in common with all regional health authorities in England and Wales, has agreed to find from within the current revenue baseline. The region has been allocated growth money of £1.945 million which will be available for the development of new and improved services within the region. The authority is also continuing to allocate resources between districts so as to improve services in less well-provided districts. The regional health authority is responsible for the allocation of resources to district health authorities within the region and is allocating resources in line with the broad policies that it has agreed with Government in the course of the annual regional review process.