§ 6. Miss Pikeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of trainee nurses who failed to complete their training during the last financial year; and what proportion this was of those who qualified.
§ Dr. John Dunwoody10,162 in 1968–69 This figure is 52 per cent. of the number who qualified in that year and represents a wastage rate of about a third of those entering training in the year.
§ Miss PikeIn future, will the Minister read the newspapers so that he knows what happens in space? That is another question. Is it not time to adopt a new approach to the training and career possibilities of people in the nursing profession? The Minister's figures will surely bear out the fact that there has been a lamentable drop-out in the early stages of training.
§ Dr. DunwoodyNot all those who drop out are necessarily wasted to society. Some transfer to pupil training. My view is that a nurse's training provides a girl with knowledge and information that will be of help to her as a mother and a citizen even if she does not complete her course. I am conscious of the need to look into this problem in much more detail than has been done in the past. We have set up a committee under the chairmanship of Professor Briggs to do exactly that.
§ Mr. William HamiltonCan my hon. Friend tell the House what the trend in wastage has been over the years and what the effect has been of the increase in the cost of living in for nurses whenever they have received a wage increase? Surely this must have a deterrent effect. Will my hon. Friend consider that aspect of the problem?
§ Dr. DunwoodyThere has not been any significant change in the proportion of girls dropping out of courses during training. As for the question of the cost of living in, the majority of nurses in this 999 country now live out, and we must bear in mind the interests of those who live out as well as those who live in.