§ Mr. DunnachieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average nurse to patient ratio in Scottish NHS hospitals in the 12-month periods ended(a) December 1992 and (b) December 1993; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StewartThe ratio of qualified nurses working in hospitals to 1,000 weighted patients was 10.9 in 1992 and 10.7 in 1993. The change reflects improvements in the deployment of staff, improvements in the management of patient care in hospitals and increases in day case surgery.