§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health What is the approximate number of nursing sisters who under the current proposals will be designated(a) as being in charge of a ward or being a senior sister in an assignment and (b) those designated as having equal responsibility at the same proposed grade, together with the respective figures which reflect the current distribution of responsibilities; and what representations he has received from persons with extensive nursing qualifications and experience which favours the change to sole responsibility, giving their names and the terms of such representation.
§ Mr. MellorOn the information currently available, a clear majority of hospital sisters and about two out of three of all sisters and charge nurses in England will be graded at the higher level on the basis that they carry continuing responsibility for the management of a ward or that they are responsible for the provision of specialist clinical advice. Returns from regional health authorities indicate that there are, in addition, some 3,500 wards where two or more sisters currently share responsibility for the management of the ward and where authorities plan to create one post which will carry continuing responsibility and attract the higher grading. Once that process is complete, some three out of four sisters and charge nurses will be on the higher grade and about two out of three of those working in hospitals.
I understand from regional chairmen and general managers that a large majority of nurse managers and 991W senior nurses have expressed support for the principle of one post carrying continuing responsibility for a ward as set out in the new grading definitions.