HC Deb 09 March 1982 vol 19 c389W
18. Mr. Sheerman

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to facilitate the delegation of more routine medical tasks to nursing staff, thus releasing more highly qualified medical personnel for sophisticated levels of treatment.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Health authorities have been encouraged to stimulate the efficient and effective use of the skills of all professional staff concerned with the treatment and care of patients. The extent to which tasks, normally within the province of doctors, can be undertaken by nurses or other non-Medical staff is essentially a matter for agreement among the professions concerned and will rest on professional judgment exercised in the light of all the local circumstances.