§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, with a view to comparing the number of working days lost in the National Health Service with figures for the work force generally, he will make a study on the subject of sickness among hospital workers.
§ Mr. John PattenWe would expect all health authorities to monitor sickness absence records as part of the process of managing staff resources efficiently. To 61W date such information has not been collected nationally, but we are currently considering a report on manpower information from the steering group on Health Service information, which recommends inter alia that national information on sickness absence should be collected.