§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what plans he has to ensure the full use of specialist trained mental handicap nurses in patterns of service training;
(2) if he will make it his policy to issue guidelines to health authorities to provide for the continuation of mental handicap nurse training to ensure the provision of competent practitioners for this client group.
§ Mr. Newton[holding answer 16 March 1988]: It is for health authorities to ensure that training provision matches the needs of the NHS, in the light of their own assessments of their future requirements for professional staff. Similarly, health authorities should seek to ensure that mental handicap nurses are properly used in the training of students. We are, however, at present considerng the UKCC's "Project 2000" proposals for changes in the pattern of nurse education and training as a whole.