§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that the training courses for doctors and nurses give adequate attention to the training in rehabilitation of handicapped persons.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe medical school curriculum is a matter for the individual universities, subject to the requirements of the General Medical Council. Postgraduate medical training is primarily a matter for the professional educational bodies concerned As far as nurses are concerned, rehabilitation is covered in the394W syllabuses of training of the General Nursing Council. Rehabilitation also plays an important part in certain post-basic specialist courses laid down by the Joint Board of Clinical Nursing Studies, such as"Nursing Care of the Physically Disabled ".
Over the past few years, my Department has done much to help stimulate the development of postgraduate training in rehabilitation by designating 21 demonstration centres in medical rehabilitation. As part of their functions these centres provide postgraduate courses in all aspects, for example, rehabilitation for general practitioners, hospital doctors, nurses and others professionally involved with the care of the disabled.