§ 51. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Health if he will state the increase of certificated male nurses in hospitals at the present time, compared with five and 10 years ago; how many are now training as male nurses; how far new entrants are increasing in number; and to what extent male nurses are being employed in children's wards.
§ Mr. R. ThompsonFollowing are the figures:
79WThe number of male nurses in training has steadily increased since December. 1955, as follows:
a total increase of nearly 39 per cent. in less than three years.
- At 31st December, 1955–3,349.
- At 30th September, 1956–3,642.
- At 30th September, 1957–4,051.
- At 30th September, 1958–4,655.
Information is not available to show the full extent to which male nurses are being employed in children's wards. The number of trained male nurses employed in children's acute hospitals at 30th September, 1958, was 12.