HC Deb 14 July 1988 vol 137 cc355-6W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services in what way regional health authority strategic plans embody a commitment to the continuation of mental handicap nurse training in England.

Mr. Newton

Regional health authority strategic plans set out authorities' long-term objectives. Progress toward these objectives, including the continued development of community and district-based services for mentally handicapped people, is monitored through the annual accountability review process and analysis of short-term programmes. These include discussion of regional plans for mental handicap nurse training, information on which is collected in the short-term programmes.

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what provisions regions are making, as services move out into the community, to continue their commitment to mental handicap nurse training in England.

Mr. Newton

It is for regional and district health authorities to determine the patterns of provision for mental handicap nurse training in the light of their local needs and resources. Details of these training arrangements are not held centrally.

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions his Department has had with local authority social services departments regarding the employment of nurses with mental handicap training; and what guidelines have been issued to ensure that this kind of training plays an integral role in planning services.

Mr. Newton

It is for the local and health authorities co-ordinating their plans for the mental handicap services for which they have statutory responsibility to agree as necessary appropriate arrangements for the selection, employment and training of care staff. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 16 March at column 615 on advice on the developing role of mental handicap nurses in the chief nursing officer's letter of 18 December 1988 (CNO(85)5).

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services which schools of nurse training have closed in the past two years.

Mr. Newton

No schools of nursing in England have closed in the past two years.