HC Deb 29 March 1979 vol 965 cc293-5W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers employed by the prison service in England and Wales are

designated as hospital officers; what percentage this is of the total number of prison officers; and how many of these hospital officers have any recognised training, such as being qualified as State registered, State enrolled or registered mental nurses.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

There are 731 hospital officers in the prison service. This is 4.68 per cent, of the total number of prison officers.

Complete records of qualifications are not held centrally but information available shows numbers qualified as follows:

  • 15 SRN—including 8 who are also RMN
  • 41 SEN
  • 8 RMN

All hospital officers receive training to enable them to undertake the basic nursing required.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what way unqualified prison officers are trained to be hospital officers; how long the training is; where they are trained; who runs the courses; who teaches the trainees; what is the content of the training course; and whether a syllabus of the course can be published.

Mr. Merlya Rees

Prison officers wishing to become hospital officers attend a 13 week course at one of the two hospital officer training schools at Liverpool and Wormwood Scrubs prisons designed to equip them to undertake the basic nursing care required. They are assessed by a course tutor at two-weekly intervals throughout the course duration and upon completion there is a written, oral and practical examination. If successful, they are normally posted to establishments where they can be supervised by full-time prison doctors and experienced senior hospital officer staff. The courses are run by senior hospital officer staff who hold registered nursing qualifications and have completed courses in teaching recognised by the General Nursing Council. Doctors lecture on medical and specialist subjects. The content of the course which is kept under review includes the following main subjects: elementary biology, anatomy, physiology, bacteriology, psychology, chemistry and physics. Basic nursing techniques are taught including ward management; the elements of medical, surgical and psychiatric disorders; emergency resuscitation and prison medical administration. Four weeks are spent in practical attachment to outside hospitals. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the syllabus.