§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of extra nurses and dialysis technicians who will need to be engaged to serve the 418 additional patients included in the plans he has recently approved; how many nurses are available who already have renal dialysis qualifications; how many new trainees he hopes to engage in this specialty; if the additional salary costs are to be met with in existing estimates: and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleThere is no renal dialysis nursing qualification as such. Nor is possession of a certificate necessary if the nurse has had experience of dialysis and524W is judged competent by her nursing officer. However, there are two joint board of clinical nursing studies courses in renal and urological nursing, and over the years these have been completed by 274 nurses. A further 46 are still in training. In 1979 around 120 training places will be available on these courses which are being held in 16 centres. It is not possible to identify separately the number of nurses and technicians required to meet the present expansion in dialysis facilities. The revenue provision required to treat the additional patients admitted to the programme will be taken into account in determining regional health authorities' allocations for 1979–80.