§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many nurses hold the Royal Society of Children's Nurses qualification in each region; how many children's wards are in charge of a nurse without that qualification; and what is the estimated need in each region for established Royal Society of Children's Nurses posts;
(2) how many training places for Royal Society of Children's Nurses there are in each region; and whether there are any plans to increase the number of such places.
§ Mr. John PattenThe hon. Member would appear to be seeking information about nurses holding the registered sick children's nurse qualification. We are advised by the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting that the number of training places in each region for the qualification are:
Number Northern 20 Yorkshire 50 Trent 180 East Anglian 20 North West Thames 130 North East Thames 270 South West Thames 100 South East Thames 75 Wessex 20 Oxford 30 South Western 20 West Midlands 100 Mersey 220 North Western 240 It is for individual health authorities to determine the number of training places they require and also the need for nurses with the RSCN qualification in the light of local needs and circumstances.
411WWe do not collect centrally information on the number of nurses holding the RSCN qualification in each region or the number of children's wards in the charge of a nurse without that qualification.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the Chief Nursing Officer intends to issue guidelines on children's nursing.
§ Mr. John PattenI understand that the Chief Nursing Officer has no plans to issue fresh guidance on children's nursing at present.