Written question asked by Paul Stinchcombe (Labour) on Thursday, 26 June 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 7 July 2003. It was answered by Paul Goggins (Labour) on Monday, 7 July 2003 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of prison officers are allowed to administer medication to prisoners; and what proportion of those officers have been given medical training.

Answer: Mr. Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prison officers are allowed to administer medication to prisoners; and what proportion of those officers have been given medical training. [122971] Paul Goggins: Only nurses and health care officers-- prison officers who have received specific training and work as part of the health care team--administer medication to prisoners. Where a health care officer is not nurse qualified they work under the clinical supervision of a registered nurse. The competencies for the safe administration of medicine are contained in the new national occupational standards for custodial health care set out in the Custodial Healthcare National Vocation Qualification (NVQ).

Secondary information