§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the terms of reference and objectives of his Departmental inquiry into night nursing; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HayhoeThe terms of reference of the review of night nursing are
To obtain detailed and comprehensive information about the range of night nursing responsibilities/tasks from a sample of general ward-based nursing staff and nurse managers in District General Hospitals, taking into account the night support available from professional and hotel services staff and where appropriate the input of administrative staff.To submit a report that will provide the first stage of guidance to enable nurse managers to measure the adequacy of resources and the effectiveness of the organisation of those resources.To identify areas which may require further research.The Department has for some time been concerned about the lack of objective information about night nursing services. The purpose of the review is to develop a profile of ward-based nursing services at night which could be used as the basis for more substantive research to be directed at the quality of care hospitalised patients receive at night; and to suggest ways in which night nursing services could be improved in terms of the organisation and use of resources in relation to work loads.