Dear Sir,
Delighted to read the article concerning Durham County Council Apprenticeship scheme. Wonderful opportunity for youngsters these days. Earning while one is learning is an excellent way to forge a career. If only the NHS would re-introduce the plan to recruit Cadet Nurses at sixteen years of age leading on to the three year State Registration Nurse qualification from age eighteen.
I’m certain that there are still a number of SRN’s about who would applaud their method of training i.e. lectures, practicing on models in the training school followed by intensive “hands on training” on a variety of wards and departments. Closely monitored by Staff Nurses or Ward Sisters with an appropriate written record of competence that followed each student over the three year period. Frequent written tests and two examinations were necessary. The ‘Preliminary’ practical examinations were held at a different hospital after 18 months, prior to State Final Examinations at end of the third year.
Maybe our MP, Phil Wilson, could pursue this method of Nurse training in an endeavour to meet the chronic shortage of staff in our hospitals. Many happy memories of Bishop Auckland General Hospital 1949 – 1969!
PC
