§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nurses working in psychiatric hospitals or units have been (a) killed and (b) severely injured in the course of their duties in each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergAs regards deaths, I refer the hon. Member to my reply on 11 December 1981 to the hon. Member for Fife, Central (Mr. Hamilton)—[Vol. 14, c.515]. As to serious injuries to nurses in the NHS there is no central information at present. However, since January 1981 health authorities have had a responsibility to notify the Health and Safety Executive of serious accidents at work, and this would include details of nurses injured or killed. When the information for 1981 is available, my noble Friend will write to the hon. Member and the hon. Member for Fife, Central, and place a copy in the Library of the House. We will at the same time provide details of serious injuries to nurses in the special hospitals.