The Morecambe & Lunesdale MP David Morris has today welcomed news that the number of nurses at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust has increased.
Within the Trust the nursing vacancy level is 4% compared to the regional average of 10%.
Speaking in the House of Commons this afternoon, David Morris MP said:
“On transparency of staffing levels, would my honourable friend agree with me that the Morecambe Bay University Health Trust vacancy level for nurses is now 4% against a regional average of 10%. That’s obviously an increase in nurses in my area thank you for that.”
Responding the Secretary of State for Health Rt. Hon Jeremy Hunt MP said:
“Well I do welcome the increase in nursing that we have had across the country and I must admit I am surprised the party opposite isn’t welcoming it because when I started this job they were constantly talking about nursing numbers now I notice they’ve stopped talking about nursing numbers.”
“What I would say about those numbers is whilst they are an important first step, it’s not possible to compare trust against trust at this stage because they’re all self-reported numbers. Over the next months and certainly by next spring we will have gone through all the figures making sure that NICE approved tools are being used to fulfil those numbers and then we’ll be able to see how trust are doing against each other I think that will be very useful for all the trusts.”
Speaking from his office in Westminster after the debate David added:
“I do think it is encouraging to see that there are more nurses on our wards across the Trust. I also welcome that the Secretary of State is, and will, continue to hold all Trusts to account on staffing levels in the interest of patient safety. I will look forward to the publication of staffing levels in the spring when we will have a very clear indication of staffing levels across all Trusts.”