Nurses (Hansard, 17 March 1988)

§ Mr. Kirkwood
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate, for each regional health authority, and for the United Kingdom as a whole, in the last year for which figures are available, of how many National Health Service nurses left the Health Service for(a) private hospitals, and (b) private residential homes; and how many rejoined the National Health Service from the private sector.

§ Mr. Newton
The information is not collected centrally.
Recently published research estimated that, in 1985, the annual number of nurses joining the private health care sector direct from the NHS was 1,474. This represents approximately seven nurses per district health authority. Annually an estimated 477 nurses rejoin the NHS from the private sector.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the total number of nurses employed(a) in the National Health Service and (b) in the private sector in each year since 1958, together with the annual turnover rate; and if he will give the equivalent information for other occupational groups within the National Health Service.

§ Mr. Newton
[holding answer 8 February 1988]: Such information on staff employed as is available is shown in the tables.
Information on NHS staff employed in England is not available on a consistent basis prior to 1971.
Information on private sector nursing staff is not available prior to 1982.
Information on turnover rates is not available centrally for NHS or private sector. However the most commonly accepted estimate for qualified nursing and midwifery staff leaving the NHS is 10 per cent. a year.
677W

England 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986

Nursing and midwifery (including agency)³ 358,400 370,100 391,800 397,100 397,100 397,500 401,200 402,700

Medical and dental (including locums)⁴ 39,000 40,200 41,000 41,500 42,300 42,300 43,000 43,200

Professional and technical (excluding works)⁵ 60,100 61,900 65,200 67,200 68,700 72,700 74,300 76,100

Works professional 5,600 5,900 6,200 6,100 6,000 6,000 6,100 5,800

Maintenance 20,100 20,600 21,000 21,000 20,800 20,200 19,800 19,100

Administrative and clerical 103,000 105,400 108,800 108,800 110,000 110,300 111,000 111,400

Ambulance (including officers) 17,100 17,800 18,200 18,300 18,400 18,100 18,200 19,000

Ancillary⁵ 171,900 172,000 172,200 170,500 166,200 152,200 139,400 124,300

Total directly employed (including agency and locums) 775,300 793,800 824,400 830,600 829,400 819,300 812,900 801,600

Source: DHSS (SR7) Annual censuses of NHS medical and non-medical manpower.

¹ Due to the effects of the 1974 NHS reorganisation figures for the years prior to 1974 are not directly comparable with those for 1974 and later years.

² Figures are independently rounded to nearest one hundred (100) whole time equivalents.

³ Not adjusted to take account of the change in nurses contractual hours—from 42 to 40 per week in 1972, and from 40 to 37.5 per week during 1980–81.

⁴ Includes all permanent paid, honorary and locum staff.

⁵ On 1 April 1984 operating department assistants transferred from ancillary to professional and technical staff group. Figures not adjusted to take account of this change.

Nursing staff in post—private sector at 31 December Whole time equivalents¹

England 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986

22,620 25,670 29,430 36,080 44,950

Source: DHSS (SR2) SBH 212 returns.

¹ Figures are independently rounded to nearest ten (10) whole time equivalents.

England	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986
Nursing and midwifery (including agency)³	358,400	370,100	391,800	397,100	397,100	397,500	401,200	402,700
Medical and dental (including locums)⁴	39,000	40,200	41,000	41,500	42,300	42,300	43,000	43,200
Professional and technical (excluding works)⁵	60,100	61,900	65,200	67,200	68,700	72,700	74,300	76,100
Works professional	5,600	5,900	6,200	6,100	6,000	6,000	6,100	5,800
Maintenance	20,100	20,600	21,000	21,000	20,800	20,200	19,800	19,100
Administrative and clerical	103,000	105,400	108,800	108,800	110,000	110,300	111,000	111,400
Ambulance (including officers)	17,100	17,800	18,200	18,300	18,400	18,100	18,200	19,000
Ancillary⁵	171,900	172,000	172,200	170,500	166,200	152,200	139,400	124,300
Total directly employed (including agency and locums)	775,300	793,800	824,400	830,600	829,400	819,300	812,900	801,600
Source: DHSS (SR7) Annual censuses of NHS medical and non-medical manpower.
¹ Due to the effects of the 1974 NHS reorganisation figures for the years prior to 1974 are not directly comparable with those for 1974 and later years.
² Figures are independently rounded to nearest one hundred (100) whole time equivalents.
³ Not adjusted to take account of the change in nurses contractual hours—from 42 to 40 per week in 1972, and from 40 to 37.5 per week during 1980–81.
⁴ Includes all permanent paid, honorary and locum staff.
⁵ On 1 April 1984 operating department assistants transferred from ancillary to professional and technical staff group. Figures not adjusted to take account of this change.

Nursing staff in post—private sector at 31 December Whole time equivalents¹
England	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986
	22,620	25,670	29,430	36,080	44,950
Source: DHSS (SR2) SBH 212 returns.
¹ Figures are independently rounded to nearest ten (10) whole time equivalents.