§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the manpower planning basis behind the provision of training courses for registered sick children's nurses;
(2)how many nurses registered as sick children's nurses in each of the last five years;
(3)what information he has on the number of registered sick children's nurses who left the National Health Service in each of the past five years;
(4)whether he has any plans to introduce refresher courses for registered sick children's nurses who are returning to the National Health Service after a break in service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonIt is for individual health authorities to determine the number of registered sick children's nurses (RSCNs) they require and ensure that there is an adequate number of places available on training courses to meet those requirements. It is always open to health authorities to seek the approval of the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for additional training courses.
Information supplied by the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting about the number of nurses in England and Wales added to the register for sick children's nurses between 1983 and 1987 is shown in the table:
Year ended 31 March Number1 1983 800 1984 655 1985 729 1986 706 1987 858 1 Changes in processing the information period shown; there are therefore inconsistencies in the series shown. Information about the number of RSCNs who leave the National Health Service is not collected centrally. It is open to individual health authorities to organise refresher courses for RSCNs who are returning to the National Health Service after a break in service if it is considered there is sufficient demand for such a course.
§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any plans to promote flexible working practices for nurses.
§ Mr. NewtonIn June 1986 the acting chairman of the NHS management board wrote to general managers reminding them of the need to consider a wide range of employment and management practices aiming to improve recruitment and retention. These included flexible rostering, part-time working and job sharing. The Royal College of Nursing's recently published guide to nurse managers and others on better ways of managing the work force, called "Manpower Solutions", also includes guidance on these practices. It must be for local86W management to determine detailed working practices in the light of local circumstances, but progress on these issues is followed up through the accountability review process.
§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list the courses in England, Wales and Scotland which train registered sick children's nurses; and if he will indicate the number of places on each course.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe information requested has been obtained from the Nurse Central Clearing House for England, The English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting, The Welsh National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting and the Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting in Scotland. It realtes to courses in 1987.
In England a 53-week post basic course in registered sick children's nurse training is available to registered general nurses at the following schools:
- Newcastle-upon-Tyne School of Nursing—72 places (three intakes per annum of 24).
- Hull District School of Nursing—eight places (one intake per annum)
- Leeds Eastern Health Authority—12 places (two intakes per annum of six).
- Leeds Western School of Nursing—12 places (2 intakes per annum of six)
- Derby School of Nursing—12 places (two intakes per annum of six)
- Nottingham School of Nursing—24 places (two intakes per annum of 12)
- Sheffield School of Nursing — eight places (one intake per annum).
- Peterborough and Stamford Department of Education—six places (one intake per annum).
- Wolfson School of Nursing (Westminster Hospital) — 45 places (three intakes per annum of 15).
- St. Mary's School of Nursing—eight places (one intake per annum).
- Charles West School of Nursing—128 places (four intakes per annum of 32).
- Brighton School of Nursing—16 places (two intakes per annum of eight).
- Medway School of Nursing — six places (one intake per annum).
- Charles Frears School of Nursing—10 places (one intake per annum).
- Normanby College School of Nursing — six places (one intake per annum).
- Thomas Guy and Lewisham School of Nursing—45 places (three intakes per annum of 15).
- Carshalton School of Nursing—30 places (three intakes per annum of 10).
- Southampton University Combined School of Nursing — eight places (one intake per annum).
Also in England combined registered general nurse and registered sick children's nurse training courses lasting three years and eight months are available at:
- Great Ormond Street—72 places, four intakes per annum of 23.
- Liverpool School of Nursing—54 places, three intakes per annum of 18.
- Sheffield School of Nursing—42 places, three intakes per annum of 14.
In Wales, registered sick children's nurse courses are available at:
- South Glamorgan School of Nursing—10 places, one intake per annum.
- West Glamorgan School of Nursing—six places, one intake per annum.
In Scotland, post-basic courses in registered sick children's nurse training are available for registered general nurses at the following schools:
- Glasgow Western College of Nursing and Midwifery—60 places, four intakes per annum of 15.
87- South Lothian College of Nursing and Midwifery—24 places, four intakes per annum of six.
- Foresterhill College of Nursing and Midwifery—12 places, two intakes per annum of six.
- Dundee College of Nursing and Midwifery — no places available this year.
Three-year combined registered general nurse and registered sick children's nurse courses are available, in Scotland, at the following schools:
- South Lothian College of Nursing and Midwifery—30 places, two intakes per annum of 15.
- Foresterhill College of Nursing and Midwifery — 28 places, four intakes per annum of seven.