§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why no social work training is being carried out at Rampton hospital; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe social work department at Rampton hospital provides opportunities for students on social work courses to spend a period of time at the hospital as part of their training. Earlier this year, nursing staff at the hospital raised objections to the arrangements under which these students were sometimes involved with patients in secure parts of the hospital, unaccompanied by qualified staff. Of the three students then at the hospital, two completed their period of training there while the third one moved to another special hospital. Under existing arrangements, no further student social workers are due to be placed at the hospital until October. The Rampton hospital review board is seeking to resolve the difficulty which has arisen in order that the placement of students at the hospital can continue in the future.