Nurses (Hansard, 28 November 1988)

§ Mr. Kennedy
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will clarify the entitlement of enrolled nurses in respect of(a) taking charge of a ward and (b) the administration of controlled drugs; and if he will make a statement.
119W

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
[holding answer 25 November 1988]: Enrolled nurses may take charge of wards at management's discretion. Normally this will be on an ad hoc rather than a continuous basis and in situations where more highly qualified staff will be available to assist or take over at short notice. In determining new clinical grades for enrolled nurses, periods spent in charge of wards will have been taken into account by health boards. The administration of controlled drugs is controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1985 (SI 1985 No 2066). Two staff are required to participate in order that all aspects of administration can be checked. It is permissible for employers to assign such work to enrolled nurses although they are recommended not to do so unless they have provided appropriate additional instruction and assessed the individual's knowledge and competence to perform the task. Such work is not, however, a factor in determining clinical grading.

Patients with diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses—discharges and deaths in 1987 by length of stay

Length of stay Discharges Deaths Total

Number Per cent. Distribution Number Per cent. Distribution Number Per cent. Distribution

Under 1 month 430 46 4 10 434 45

1 and less than 3 months 334 36 3 7 337 34

3 and less than 6 months 84 9 1 2 85 9

6 and less than 12 months 42 4 — — 42 4

12 months or over 45 5 33 81 78 8

Total 935 100 41 100 976 100

The number of discharges and deaths was 0.5 per cent. lower in 1987 than 1986.

§ Mr. Goodlad
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many current occupants of National Health Service hospital and unit beds in Northern Ireland have a main diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses; and what those figures are as a percentage of(a) mental and (b) all beds in Northern Ireland.

§ Mr. Needham
Information on current occupancy is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost from each of the psychiatric units in Northern Ireland.

§ Mr. Goodlad
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the admissions by diagnosis and orders of admissions, including percentage changes in numbers and rates per 100,000 population, of patients suffering from schizophrenia psychoses in Northern Ireland in the last year for which figures are available.

§ Mr. Needham
The information requested is as follows:

Admissions of patients diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia psychoses during 1987

Number Percentage change since 1986 Rate per 100,000 population

First admission

133 +23.2 8

Total admissions

968 +5.6 62

§ Mr. Goodlad
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients with a primary

Patients with diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses—discharges and deaths in 1987 by length of stay
Length of stay	Discharges	Deaths	Total
	Number	Per cent. Distribution	Number	Per cent. Distribution	Number	Per cent. Distribution
Under 1 month	430	46	4	10	434	45
1 and less than 3 months	334	36	3	7	337	34
3 and less than 6 months	84	9	1	2	85	9
6 and less than 12 months	42	4	—	—	42	4
12 months or over	45	5	33	81	78	8
Total	935	100	41	100	976	100

Admissions of patients diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia psychoses during 1987
Number	Percentage change since 1986	Rate per 100,000 population
First admission
133	+23.2	8
Total admissions
968	+5.6	62