§ Mr. GalbraithTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 28 July,Official Report, column 472, what information he now has as to the current bed occupancy of wards 7 and 8 at Lennox castle hospital.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythI have had inquiries made of the greater Glasgow health board.
Wards 7 and 8 are for mentally handicapped people with behavioural disturbance. Eight of the 12 places in ward 7, the admission unit, are occupied. Further increases to the target occupancy level of 90 per cent. are dependent upon the rate of referrals from general practitioners and other consultants. Six of the 12 places in ward 8, the intensive care unit, are occupied. A further four residents will be admitted next week, taking the ward to its target occupancy level.
§ Mr. GalbraithTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has concerning the current nurse staffing at Lennox castle hospital and the expected increase for 1987–88 and 1988–89.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythI have had inquiries made of the greater Glasgow health board.
The average whole-time equivalent nursing staff at Lennox castle hospital has increased from 617 in 1987–88 to 634 in the period April to September 1988. Since 310W 1986–87 the ratio of residents to nurses has improved from 1:0.52 to 1:0.69, an increase of 33 per cent. in the total number of nurses per resident. The health board has allocated £466,000 in the current financial year for increases in nursing staff at the hospital. This is equivalent to £599,000 in a full year and will be used to improve the proportion of trained nurses, and increase their total number.