§ 1990. Miss LestorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many school nurses were employed in the United Kingdom in(a) 1975, (b) 1980, (c) 1985 and (d)
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe information for England is given in the table.
426WThe fluctuation in numbers reflects the substantial growth in family practitioner services. The number of general practitioners has increased by 20 per cent. since 1979 and the wider range of primary care services available to families with children has led many health authorities to review the role of their school health services and direct these resources more specifically towards health promotion and support to children with special health care needs in schools.
The information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales, for Scotland and for Northern Ireland.
NHS School Nurses1 in post at 30 September each year England Whole-time equivalents2 31975 3,290 1980 2,690 1985 3,110 1990 2,850 Source: Department of Health (SM13) Annual census of NHS non-medical manpower.
1 Includes school health visitors. Statistics on the number of nurses in particular areas of work are prone to errors in employing authorities' coding procedures. The above figures should therefore be treated with caution.
2All figures are independently rounded to the nearest ten (10) whole-time equivalents.
3Figures are not adjusted for the reduction in nurses working hours during 1980–81 (from 40 to 37.5 hours per week).