HL Deb 14 January 1988 vol 491 cc1439-40WA
Lord Molloy

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. (a) what is the number of whole-time equivalent health visitor posts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland;
  2. (b) of these, how many have had their caseloads temporarily closed because of (i) staff recruiting problems and (ii) vacant posts left unfilled to reduce costs; and
  3. (c) which health authorities provide for vacant health visitor caseloads to be covered by staff employed on a temporary basis (full or part-time) for this purpose.

Lord Molloy

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the number of NHS nursing staff in the following categories attached to chest clinics and/or working closely with consultant physicians in the identification, treatment and after care of people suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis—

  1. (a) Registered general nurses with no other relevant nursing qualification;
  2. 1440
  3. (b)Registered general nurses without the health visitor's certificate but with another relevant nursing qualification;
  4. (c)Registered general nurses with the health visitor's certificate.

Lord Skelmersdale

The number of health visitors in post at 30th September 1986 for England, Wales and Northern Ireland is given in the table:

NHS Health Visitor Staff in post at 30th September 1986 (Whole time equivalents)
England 10,430
Wales 610
Northern Ireland 470

I regret that the other information requested is not available centrally.