§ 40. Mr. SimsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to extend the role of nurses in hospitals.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe have given advice on delegation to a nurse of tasks not included in basic training in HC(77)22: "The Extending Role of the Clinical Nurse—Legal Implications and Training Requirements". A copy is in the Library.
With the increasing complexity of treatment and the growth of the specialist expertise of the nurse, various initiatives have been taken to extend the role of nurses in hospitals. In the White Paper "Working for Patients" the Government state that local managers, in consultation with their professional colleagues, will be expected to re-examine all areas of work to identify the most cost-effective use of professional skills.