§ 55. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Health the present number of nurses and student nurses within the administration of the Eastern Regional Board; approximately, how many of these are from other countries than the United Kingdom; and to what extent the present intake of student nurses has decreased from previous years.
§ Mr. R. ThompsonI assume that the hon. Member is referring to the North East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board. At 31st March, 1958, the number of nursing staff employed in hospitals administered by that Board was 9,537 whole-time and 2,313 part-time, and included 4,283 student nurses. I regret that I have no information about how many of these were from other countries. The intake of student nurses has been steadily rising and the number in March this year was about 38 per cent. higher than in 1949.