§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration he has given to the public statements by consultants at Wythenshawe hospital, Manchester, concerning the deaths of heart patients each week because there are not enough nurses to staff the intensive care unit to the required level; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI have read press reports of the statements. At present the intensive care unit consists of nine beds and is staffed accordingly, though occassionally staff absence levels, or the need to allocate more staff than usual to nurse patients needing an exceptionally high degree of nursing care mean that not all beds can be used. The capacity of the unit will be increased to 10 beds next week, as funding has now been agreed for five additional nurses. The North-Western regional health authority will314W shortly be considering what further development of services for people needing cardiac surgery can be funded in 1984–5.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the discharge from Wythenshawe hospital, Manchester, of Mr. Wilfred Moses, who was on a life-support machine and prepared for open-heart surgery when he was told that it would have to be postponed because of lack of nursing staff; and what action he has taken.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeMr. Moses was due to have a coronary bypass operation on 27 November, but it had to be postponed because all beds in the intensive care unit were occupied. The operation took place two days later, and Mr. Moses was discharged from hospital on 9 December.