HC Deb 16 November 1950 vol 480 cc1867-8
17. Mr. Osborne

asked the Minister of Health what negotiations he has had with the General Nursing Council to see if the hospital training received by men during their period of service with the Armed Forces can be more fully recognised in attaining qualification as a State registered nurse; and if he will make a statement on the correspondence sent to him on this subject.

Mr. Bevan

This matter has been discussed with the General Nursing Council and the Service Departments at various times. The question of what, if any, remissions of training can be granted is entirely for the General Nursing Council. The list of concessions granted by them is rather long, and I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following are the concessions:

1. The rules of the General Nursing Council provide:

  1. (a) for a remission of six months in the period of training for State registration to members of the Armed Forces who have had not less than two years experience since 3rd September, 1939, in the nursing of the physically sick in hospital under the super- 1868 vision of trained nurses. Application must be made within six months of discharge from the Forces. The trainee may take the preliminary examination on the termination of six months' training instead of on completion of one year;
  2. (b) for persons who have attained the rank of Nursing Orderly Class I in the Army, or the equivalent rank in the Navy or Royal Air Force and have had not less than two years' experience in the nursing of the physically sick in hospital under the supervision of trained nurses, to be allowed to qualify for registration by a 12 months' intensive course.
  3. (c) for men who have undergone a course of not less than three years' nursing instruction in accordance with the syllabus of the Council, in the service of the Admiralty, the Army Council or the Air Council, to be allowed to take the examinations for State registration without further training.

2. Arrangements have been made between the General Nursing Council and the Service Departments to enable nursing orderlies in the Army and equivalent ranks in the other Services, during their period of service, to train for the preliminary examination for State registration in Service hospitals approved by the General Nursing Council.