§ 28. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Health whether the recent decline in the number of student nurses in psychiatric hospitals has now been checked; and how the present number in training compares with 1960.
§ Mr. BraineYes, Sir. The latest figure 7,533 is only 141 below the peak figure in March, 1960.
§ Mr. BoydenIs the hon. Gentleman satisfied that the recruitment is sufficient to enable him to carry out the hospital plan for psychiatric hospitals?
§ Mr. BraineI should be very foolish if I ever said that I was satisfied with anything in this important field, but the total nursing staff in psychiatric hospitals of all kinds and grades together at 31st March, 1963, was the highest ever recorded.