§ 6. Dr. D. Johnsonasked the Minister of Health what references as to character are required from applicants for the post of student mental nurse; and in particular what precautions he takes to ensure that no one, either male or female, possessing a previous criminal record, is appointed to be in nursing charge of the mentally sick.
§ Mr. VosperHospital authorities invariably require references as to character to be obtained from persons of some standing and, where appropriate, from previous employers. I know of no practicable means of obtaining information about any criminal record of an applicant for employment, but the risk 17 could no doubt be minimised by requiring references covering the whole period of previous employment.
§ Dr. JohnsonI thank my right hon. Friend for his reply, but is he aware that at a recent trial, at Winchester Assizes, of a student male nurse for the manslaughter of a patient in Park Prewett Hospital a considerable list of previous convictions was read out? Will he do what he can to tighten up the arrangements about references?
§ Mr. VosperI have examined that case. The student nurse in question had provided references from no fewer than three employers, but no record of his convictions was divulged. My hon. Friend will understand the difficulty of obtaining information of that nature.