§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the conversion courses available to nurses in Northern Ireland; if he will indicate commencement dates for each course and the number of places available annually; and what assistance has been given to the health boards in Northern Ireland by the National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting.
§ Mr. NeedhamConversion courses, approved by the National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Northern Ireland, are presently available at three colleges of nursing in Northern Ireland as follows:—
695W
Name of College Conversion to Part of the Register Number of Intakes per annum Number of Places available Commencement Date Length of Course Northern Area 1 One Minimum 12 5 March 1990 Full-time course Maximum 15 of 55 weeks duration minimum Southern Area 1, 3 or 5 One Minimum 8 13 November 1989 Full-time course Maximum 12 of 44 weeks duration minimum Western Area 1 and 3 One Minimum 6 28 August 1988 Full-time course Maximum 10 Part I and 20 February 1989 Part 3 of 48 weeks duration minimum A proposal to provide a conversion course to part 6 of the professional register at the Eastern area college of nursing, Northside, is presently under consideration by the National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Northern Ireland. If approved, this course will offer at least one intake of up to 20 students. It is hoped to introduce a second intake later this year. The Eastern area college of nursing, Southside, is presently developing a conversion course which is expected to be available early next year. It is also proposed to provide a conversion course to part 5 of the register at the Western area college of nursing in the near future.
Health and social services boards may second "second level nurses", previously referred to "state enrolled nurses", in their employment to the national board's colleges of nursing to undergo a period of further training for registration as a "first level nurse" or parts 1, 3 or 5 or the professional register. The health and social services boards liaise with the colleges of nursing about the numbers of nurses requiring training.
In addition to the traditional conversion courses available, there is also a proposal to enable conversion through an open learning inititative. This is being organised jointly by the Open university and an independent nursing publication and is scheduled for launch in October 1990. The Northern Ireland national board will be responsible for approving the open learning courses made available in the Province.