HC Deb 31 July 1961 vol 645 cc910-1
34. Mr. A. Roberts

asked the Minister of Health if he will take steps to ensure that nurses and nursing assistants who are unfamiliar with the English language are not left in sole charge of wards or of individual patients in hospital.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Miss Edith Pitt)

Hospital authorities are already aware of this requirement.

Mr. Roberts

I appreciate the wonderful service these girls from abroad perform, but does the hon. Lady really think that the instructions she has sent out to hospital management boards are sufficient? Does she realise the great danger that some patients are in? It is very unfair to expect these girls, who cannot speak English properly or even read it, to carry out their duties efficiently and at the same time give full protection?

Miss Pitt

Nursing auxiliaries or nursing assistants should not be left in charge, whether they speak English or not, and are not authorised to give medicine.

Mr. Marsh

Is the hon. Lady aware that two or three years ago a patient in a mental hospital in Epsom died as a result of being in the sole charge of an employee of the hospital who could not speak English? The employee placed the patient in a bath of water which was far too hot and was unable to understand his protests. Since many people are fully aware of this problem, is it not about time that she did something other than just being aware of it?

Miss Pitt

I am not aware of the particular incident. It is rather a long time ago. As the hon. Gentleman is aware, new entrants to the nursing profession as from next year, when the educational test is altered, will be required to have English or Welsh as one of their G.C.E. subjects.

Mr. Snow

Is the hon. Lady aware that I have written to the Minister on this subject of foreign nationals acting as nurses in mental hospitals? Would it not ease the situation if there were improved consultation between the authorities employing these people and the existing trade union structure in hospitals?

Miss Pitt

I will look into that point, but in the case we are speaking of it was not a nurse but an auxiliary.