§ Mr. Biffenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated number of nurses currently employed in the National Health Service: and by what number this falls short of agreed establishment figures.
§ Dr. John DunwoodyThe latest available figures of qualified nurses, in whole-time equivalent terms are:
There is no generally accepted basis for estimating the numbers required but there is general agreement that, taking the service as a whole, at least the present total numbers are needed to maintain present levels of work, and more for improving and developing the service.
In hospitals at 31st March, 1969 111,202 Employed by local health authorities at 30th September, 1968. 16,603
§ Mr. Biffenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the number of nurses recruited annually to 'the National Health Service since 1964, what has been the corresponding number of these who have left the service; and how many of these entered other employment.
307W
§ Dr. John DunwoodyInformation is not available in the form requested, but the net effect of the numbers entering and leaving employment in the National Health Service—including local health authority services—is shown by the following total numbers of qualified nurses in post at 30th September:
1964 … … … 110,948 1965 … … … 121,273 1966 … … … 133,199 1967 … … … 139,013 1968 … … … 143,629