Vol. 431 No. 3
197 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some health boards have not confirmed the appointment of community psychiatric nurses for a considerable period and are currently filling such posts with staff nurses; and if he will give his views of the future role of community psychiatric nurses in the development of a comprehensive psychiatric care policy.
The role of the psychiatric nurse has been expanding since the publication of the report Planning for the Future in 1984. The report recognised the pivotal role nurses had to play in the development of a comprehensive, community oriented, sector based community service. One of the recommendations of the report was that nurses should be able to work in any component of a comprehensive psychiatric service and so avoid effective demarcation of duties for hospital and community based nurses.
In line with this policy, psychiatric nurses have been transferring from psychiatric hospitals to community facilities as a comprehensive, community based psychiatric service is being developed by health boards. Developments in this regard are currently under review as part of the consultation process on the Green Paper on Mental Health.
