HC Deb 20 February 1989 vol 147 c525W
Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter sent by the chief nursing officer to all district and regional nursing offices on 18 January.

Mr. Freeman

I shall be placing copies of the letter and accompanying paper in the Library.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the consequences on employment and pay scales for nurses resulting from the guidelines on nursing contained in the letter sent from the chief nursing officer to all district and regional nursing offices on 18 January.

Mr. Freeman

We do not envisage that there would be any consequences on employment and pay scales for nurses arising from this letter.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the purpose and status of the letter sent by the chief nursing officer to all regional and district nursing officers on the role of nurses.

Mr. Freeman

The purpose of the letter on nursing routines and improving efficiency, which was sent by the Chief Nursing Officer and chairman of the standing nursing and midwifery advisory committee at the specific request of members to regional and district nursing officers and to the chief nursing officers of special health authorities, was to encourage local nursing and midwifery advisory committees to study the use of some routine nursing practices with a view to considering whether they were still relevant in their local circumstances. They were asked to take whatever action they considered necessary to develop innovative ideas to increase the efficiency of effectiveness of nursing care, so that unnecessary practices can be eliminated, releasing nurses to provide a quality service which not only benefits patients but provides increased job satisfaction for nursing staff.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response there has been to the letter sent on 18 January to all regional and district nursing officers from the Chief Nursing Officer about the role of nurses.

Mr. Freeman

Some nursing officers have already replied in a positive way indicating the initiatives and developments they are undertaking.