HC Deb 26 January 1987 vol 109 cc105-6W
Mr. McCrindle

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate how many qualified nurses leave the profession each year; how this compares with the number of nurses qualifying each year; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Newton

[pursuant to his reply, 11 December 1986, c. 295]: I regret that information of this nature is not collected centrally. However, we are aware of some work undertaken by the Institute of Manpower Studies which suggests that about 10 per cent. of qualified nurses and midwives leave the National Health Service each year. This figure will include retirements, those leaving to undertake further post-basic training and other nursing employment. They are not therefore all lost to the profession. On that basis some 23,000 in wholetime equivalent terms left the NHS in England in the last year.

Session Bill Stages Date Sponsors Royal Assent received
1954–55 Public Libraries (Scotland) Report 27 April 1955 Sir William Darling, Sir Ian Hutchison, Yes
Third Reading 27 April 1955 Major McCallum, Mr. Rankin,
Mr. Malcolm MacMillan, Sir David Robertson,
Mr. Oswald

Information supplied by the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting shows that 27,000 learners completed training during the year ended 31 March 1986. This figure includes about 23,000 completing basic nurse training courses and 4,000 completing midwifery, health visitor and district nurse training. Newly qualified staff are not the only source of recruitment. A significant proportion are those returning after a break in service.