HC Deb 02 February 1999 vol 324 cc570-1W
20. Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the percentage increase in nurses on trainee schemes was for 1997 over the previous year; and what proportion of this increase was made up of graduate nurses. [67179]

Mr. Denham

The English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting collects statistical information on students on nurse trainee schemes and publishes the figures in their annual reports, but not in the format requested.

21. Dr. Iddon

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the training of nurses. [67180]

Mr. Denham

We have already said that we must reform the system of nurse education and training.

We want to see more flexible, modular nurse education that has far stronger links with the NHS at all levels. We want student nurses to have more work-based learning in the NHS and see an NHS committed to preparing the next generation of nurses.

We will be discussing how we achieve this with representatives of the professions, the UK General Council and the universities.

24. Mr. Lansley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses were registered with the UK Central Council for England and Wales on (i) 1 May 1997 and (ii) 1 January 1999; and if he will make a statement. [67183]

Mr. Denham

For the information requested, I refer the hon. Member to the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting.

27. Helen Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many extra nurse trainees would have entered training in the years 1992 to 1997 if the level of intake matched expected levels for 1998 to 2001. [67186]

Mr. Denham

If the previous Government had matched our commitment to nurse training over their last five years of office, over 14,000 extra nurse trainees would have entered training.

36. Jane Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what improvements he is making to nurse education and training. [67195]

Mr. Denham

We wish to see nurse education become more accessible and provide nurses with the practical skills they need when they enter the National Health Service. We will be discussing how we achieve this with representatives of the professions and the universities, and with Sir Len Peach, Chair of the United Kingdom Central Council Commission for Education. The commission is reviewing nurse education and will report in the summer.

The NHS is already working to improve nurse education, for example by encouraging the use of longer practice placements and by working closely with universities to encourage more joint NHS/University-funded nurse teacher posts.

37. Mr. Hurst

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new student nurse trainees were forecast to start training in the year 1 January 1997 to 31 December 1997; and how many new student nurse trainees started training during that year. [67196]

Mr. Denham

From April 1997 to April 1998 the number of nurse training places was increased by just under 1,500 against a planned increase of 1,300.