§ Mr. Irvingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what measures the Government are taking to arrest the decline in the proportion of trained community psychiatric nurses to the total work force of community psychiatric nurses.
§ Mrs. CurrieWith the rising numbers of nurses working in community psychiatric nursing, we have already made clear to health authorities and professional bodies our concern that all staff should be properly prepared for this specialised area of work. Some health authorities provide in-service education and training for their community psychiatric nurses before they take up their posts, and we use every opportunity to encourage staff to undertake the formal post-basic clinical course in community psychiatric nursing care. From information provided by the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting, 1,142 certificates have been issued since 1980 to nurses successfully completing the course, 199 certificates being granted during the year ending 31 March 1986. We shall shortly be discussing with regional nursing officers what the deficiencies now are, and the ways they may be rectified.