§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is his policy regarding persons in charge of a registered nursing home being employed full-time elsewhere; and whether they need to show any active involvement in the home;
(2) whether he or health authorities require the day-to-day management of a registered nursing home to be carried out by one of its persons in charge.
§ Mr. John PattenThe registration of nursing homes is delegated to district health authorities. Registration may be refused or cancelled if the authority is satisfied that the home is not in the charge of a person who is either a registered medical practitioner, or a qualified nurse, or, in the case of a maternity home, a registered midwife; or if the person in charge, who is responsible for the day-to-day running of the home, is not a fit person. It is for district health authorities to decide who is a fit person taking account of all the circumstances of an individual case.