§ Mrs. Clwydasked the Secretary of State for Social Services for how many patients on average a nurse, working for the National Health Service, is responsible during an average working shift.
§ Mr. HayhoeI regret that this information is not available centrally.
§ Mrs. Clwydasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average number of hours worked per week by a nurse employed by the National Health Service.
§ Mr. HayhoeThe "New Earnings Survey" contains information on hours worked by a sample of "full-time" National Health Service nursing and midwifery staff. 143W Including overtime, the April 1985 survey shows female staff working 37.6 hours per week on average and male staff 38.6 hours.
It should be noted that the "New Earnings Survey" definition of full-time is normal basic hours above 30 per week. The standard contracted week, exclusive of meal breaks, for National Health Service nursing and midwifery staff is 37½ hours.
§ Mrs. Clwydasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the planning assumption for the purpose of his Department's estimates of the likely percentage increase in salaries for nurses in the National Health Service in the coming year; and how this compares with his Department's assumptions for the increases in National Health Service costs in general;
(2) what assumption was made, when health authority budgets were prepared for 1985–86, about the percentage increase in nurses' salaries in the current year.
§ Mr. HayhoeThe cash allocations to health authorities in 1985–86 and 1986–87 have taken account of forecast increases in general inflation, but have not reflected any specific assumption about increases in the salaries of nurses or other staff. Health authorities know that they will
Number (nearest thousands) of single payments and rate per 1,000 1978 to 1983 Category of payment 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 Clothing and Footwear Number 391 360 355 57 74 113 Rate per 1,000 133 126 114 15 17 26 Bedding Number 117 109 155 165 276 367 Rate per 1,000 40 38 50 44 65 84 Household Furniture/Equipment Number 120 135 146 250 419 654 Rate per 1,000 41 47 47 67 98 150 Fuel Number 12 20 23 13 242 25 Rate per 1,000 4 7 7 4 57 6 Removal Expenses Number 28 27 24 31 40 38 Rate per 1,000 10 10 8 8 9 9 Repair/Redecoration Number 27 28 24 22 49 92 Rate per 1,000 9 10 8 6 11 21 Notes:
1. The regulated scheme was introduced in November 1980.
2. This includes a number of payments made during the period of exceptionally severe weather early in 1982.
Source: Annual Statistical Enquiries 1978 to 1983.