§ Mr. DunnachieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many agency-based nursing and auxiliary staff are currently employed in acute wards of hospitals managed by the Greater Glasgow health board; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe board's policy is that agency nurses will be employed to cover for absent staff only when there is no alternative to doing so. The number therefore varies from day to day and I understand that on 5 July, 31.95 whole-time equivalents were employed in acute wards.