§ Mr. BaronTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people(a) began studying as a midwife and (b) completed their studies as a midwife, broken down by region, in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and what proportion of those successfully completing their studies went on (i) to register and (ii) to practise as a midwife in the NHS. [133168]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 20 October 2003]: Information on the number of people entering training to become a midwife by strategic health authority in 2002–03 and by regional office area between 1996–97 and 2001–02 has been placed in the Library. Information by region is not available centrally before 1996–97. Information on the number of midwives completing their studies is not collected centrally.
Information from the Nursing and Midwifery Council on midwives on the register and intending to practise is available from the website www.nmc-uk.orq.uk. Information on midwives going on to practise in the national health service after completing training is not collected centrally.
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§ Mr. BaronTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what targets he has set relating to(a) the recruitment of midwives into the NHS and (b) the overall numbers of midwives employed within the NHS; [133169]
(2) how many midwives worked in the national health service, expressed as (a) a headcount and (b) whole time equivalent, in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [133170]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 20 October 2003]: Information on the number of midwives employed in the national health service is shown in the table. The Government expects to see an extra 2,000 midwives employed in the NHS by 2006, over a 2,000 baseline. As at September 2002, there were 23,249 midwives, an increase of 680 since 2000.
NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): Registered midwives in England as at 30 September each year Whole-time equivalent Numbers (headcount) 1992 20,345 24,092 1993 19,629 23,443 1994 19,337 23,103 1995 18,034 22,022 1996 18,262 22,595 1997 18,053 22,385 1998 18,168 22,841 1999 17,876 22,799 2000 17,662 22,572 2001 18,048 23,075 2002 18,119 23,249 Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.
2. A new system of occupation coding for NHS non-medical staff was introduced in 1995. The new codes classify staff according to what they do rather than the terms and conditions under which they are employed ie national payscales. Figures based on new occupation codes are not directly comparable with those based on the old payscale classification.
3. Therefore figures since 1995 are not comparable with earlier years.
Source:
Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.
§ Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost to public funds of supporting student midwives was in the last year for which figures are available; and how many student midwives were supported. [133326]
§ Mr. HuttonNational health service-funded student midwives are eligible for financial support under the terms of the NHS bursary scheme. The total value of bursary payments made to midwifery students for the academic year 2002–03 was £14.8 million, with 3,164 students being in receipt of a bursary. All NHS-funded students also have their liability for a tuition fee contribution (worth up to £1,100 for the academic year 2002–03) met on their behalf, without means testing.
§ Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when ministers or officials last examined financial support arrangements for student midwives; what principle decisions were made; and what plans there are to re-examine support arrangements. [133327]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Department undertook a comprehensive review of all national health service-funded student support arrangements during 2000–01 739W and a number of options for change were considered. It was decided to retain the existing overall format of the NHS package, but to provide a range of other improvements targeted at specific areas of need. NHS bursary rates across all the professions are considered each year and have been uplifted annually since 1998, including an increase of 10.4 per cent, (well ahead of inflation) in 2001. My ministerial colleagues and I continue to keep NHS-funded student support arrangements under review in order to ensure they continue to meet our objectives for the service.
§ Mr. BaronTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make an assessment of staffing levels in NHS maternity units, with particular reference to the number of midwives. [133633]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 2; October 2003]: The Government are committed to nationally increasing the number of midwives. By 2006, we expect there to be 2,000 more midwives being employed in the national health service than in 2000. Since September 2000, the number of midwives employed in the NHS has increased by 680 to 23,249. Information on the number of midwives by NHS maternity unit is not collected centrally.
§ Mr. BaronTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the number of places available for those wishing to study to become a midwife. [133634]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 21 October]: The Government are increasing the number of training places for midwives as part of the NHS Plan commitment for an extra 5,500 nurses and midwives entering training by 2004, over a 1999 baseline. In 2002–03, 1,445 students started training for a first qualification to become a midwife, an increase of 42 per cent., since 1999–2000. A further 677 started post-registration courses to become a midwife. Latest figures from workforce development confederations suggest a further overall increase of over 100 in the current financial year. Further increases in the future to improve midwifery services and to achieve the NHS Plan target.
§ Mr. BaronTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the level of financial support available for those wishing to study to become a midwife. [133635]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 21 October 2003]: The Department of Health undertook a comprehensive review of all national health service-funded student support arrangements during 2000–01, and a number of options for change were considered. It was decided to retain the existing overall format of the NHS package, but provide a range of other improvements targetted at specific areas of need. NHS Bursary rates across all the professions are considered each year and have been uplifted annually since 1998, including an increase of 10.4 per cent., (well ahead of inflation) in 2001.