§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to ensure that training in brain injury rehabilitation and behaviour modification is included in basic nurse training.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe special requirements of nursing in brain injury form one part of basic nurse training. Additional specialist training is available in neurosurgical and neurological nursing. Twelve centres are currently approved to run those post-basic courses, of which seven provide courses for enrolled nurses.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he has received the report by the Medical Disability Society "The Management of Traumatic Brain Injury"; and if he will make a statement;
505W(2) what plans he has to ensure the provision of appropriate day care facilities for people recovering from traumatic brain injuries who are living at home;
(3) whether he plans to establish any specialist brain injury rehabilitation units; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CurrieWe welcome the report by the Medical Disability Society as an important contribution to the continuing debate about services for brain-injured people. We are aware of concern about existing services for people who have suffered traumatic brain injury. Officials are considering the report's recommendations about those services and examining a number of options regarding the best way to take the matter forward.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many full-time specialists, clinical psychologists and nurses are engaged in the rehabilitation of people with traumatic head injuries;
(2) if he will list the special head injury units within the National Health Service;
(3) what information his Department holds on the number of brain injured patients who are routinely cared for in acute surgical wards long after need for surgery has passed.
§ Mrs. CurrieI regret that this information is not available centrally.