§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress is being made on his Department's intentions to train additional community psychiatric nurses; and when he expects the English training board to publish its report on how it hopes to meet the need for such additional nurses.
§ Mr. NewtonOfficials of the Department have had discussions with regional nursing officers and officers of the English National Board (ENB) in regard to the education and training of community psychiatric nurses. The need for flexibility in the provision of clinical courses was stressed, and the hon. Member may wish to note that the English National Board has established a panel to review the curriculum of the current training course 811. The Department is represented by an observer on the panel. The panel will report to the board later this year. In addition, the ENB has approved an increase in the number of centres approved to conduct course 811—from 10 in 1985 to 24 in January 1988. There have also been other developments such as the opportunity to undertake course 811 by distance learning programmes and on a part-time basis which are being evaluated.