§ 15. Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the number of nurses employed in the National Health Service.
§ Mr. MellorThe number of nursing and midwifery staff employed in the NHS in England continues to increase and at September 1987 there were 404,000 wholetime equivalents; the highest number ever.
§ 66. Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current position on the supply and recruitment of nurses.
§ Mr. MellorThe number of nursing and midwifery staff employed in the National Health Service in England continues to increase and at September 1987 there were 404,000 wholetime equivalents; the highest number ever. However, there are still recruitment difficulties in some specialties and localities particularly in London and the south-east, although the recently introduced London pay supplement and clinical grading structure are expected to improve the situation when they are fully implemented.