§ 6. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Secretary of State for War what training is given to medical orderlies who have no civilian experience of the handling of drugs.
§ Mr. HeadNursing orderlies of the Royal Army Medical Corps receive a course of preliminary nursing training which is accepted by the General Nursing Council as training for a State-registered nurse, and this includes practice in handling medicines and drugs. Regimental medical orderlies are attached to hospitals or reception stations, as opportunity offers, to gain experience of the care of the sick, including the handling of medicines and drugs. Dispensing is limited to qualified dispensers.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of these so-called medical orderlies are a positive menace, by reason of their ignorance, to the sick men they are supposed to look after, and that there have been some unfortunate cases arising therefrom? What is he doing to improve this very unsatisfactory state of affairs?
§ Mr. HeadIf the hon. and gallant Gentleman will give me specific instances, I will look into them.