18. Mrs. Slaterasked the Minister of Health what further measures, following on the report of the Working Party on Health Visiting, are to be made for the recruitment of health visitors.
§ Mr. R. ThompsonWith the long-term aim of improving recruitment, the working party recommended improvements in the status of health visitors and the organisation of their training. My right hon. and learned Friend is in general agreement with these recommendations, and discussions on matters of detail are proceeding with the local authority associations and professional organisations.
Mrs. SlaterDoes the hon. Gentleman realise that this is becoming an extremely urgent problem for local authorities, and that the fact that many of them are understaffed increases the tremendous difficulties which confront health visitors? My own local authority has just half of its complement. Cannot this work be speeded up?
§ Mr. ThompsonI will do my best in that matter.
§ Mr. HastingsWill the Minister give consideration to the better training of health visitors in health and spending less time on training them as nurses?
§ Mr. ThompsonThe principal suggestions of the working party were for the introduction of a new grade of group adviser and for the constitution of a central training body with wide responsibilities for the conduct and supervision of training. There is controversy about some aspects of these proposals, but I cannot say precisely when decisions will be taken upon them.