§ 28. Dame Patricia Hornsby-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what checks are made by his Department on nursing agencies which supply nurses to National Health Service hospitals.
§ 29. Sir G. Sinclairasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what checks are made by his Department on the qualifications of nurses supplied by private nursing agencies to National Health Service hospitals.
§ Sir K. JosephNo checks are made by my Department. It is the responsibility of local authorities as licensing authorities to enforce the provisions of the Nurses Agencies Act 1957. I am advised that it is the duty of agencies to check the qualifications of their nurses. Any further checks would be at the discretion of the licensing or employing authorities.