§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the increase in the numbers of mentally ill and mentally handicapped people being visited by health visitors from 28.000 in 1966 to 59,000 in 1973, what training programmes are in operation to equip health visitors for this type of work.
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§ Mr. MeacherPreparation for these aspects of health visitors' work is included in the training course leading to the health visitor's certificate. Increased emphasis was placed on these subjects in the revised syllabus introduced in 1965. In addition provision is made in the programmes of refresher courses, which are particularly directed to health visitors who have been qualified for some time, for courses dealing with problems of mental illness and mental handicap.