§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has yet studied the implications for the Natonal Health Service of the EEC directive on nurse training; whether the additional funds required to implement this directive from June 1979 will be made available to area health authorities; and, since planning will have to be made in good time, if he will now make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleThe EEC directive relates to students in general nursing only and of courses of training starting after June 1979. The General Nursing Council for England which will be the "competent authority" for this purpose gave guidance to nurse training schools in December 1977, and has discussed with individual training schools any difficulties they may have. I understand plans are now well in hand for the necessary changes to ensure that all student general nurses will have practical experience in fields of nursing which are currently only optional. This may require additional resources, but the directive offers scope for some degree of flexibility because particular 961W periods of experience are not specified. I hope health authorities can develop their programmes of practical experience within the resources available at the time.