§ Mrs. Joyce Butlerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidance he intends giving to area health authorities in London and elsewhere regarding the transfer of a part of their establishment of qualified nurses from the hospital service to the community, including the retraining, in-service training and other incentives desirable, in line with his Department's emphasis on a shift of resources from institutional to primary care.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe deployment of nursing staff is a matter for health authorities having regard to local needs and priorities. The Consultative Document on Priorities for Health and Social Services in England which emphasises the need to develop primary care proposes a growth rate of 6 per cent. per annum for both the health visiting and district nursing services. Facilities already exist for health authorities to second suitable nurses for health visitor training, and to arrange for suitable nurses to receive training for the national certificate in district nursing. We have no plans for issuing further guidance at this time.