§ 101. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Health approximately the number and percentage of, respectively, Irish, foreign, colonial and Dominion nurses and trainees now in British hospitals; what is the present estimated shortage of nurses; what is the number of those who withdrew from training before completion; and what progress is being made in further recruitment.
§ Mr. BevanI have no details on the first point. Shortage is estimated by the hospitals at about 40,000. Trainees withdrawing before completion have been estimated at about 40 per cent. The total of hospital nurses increased during 1949 by about 10,000, and is still increasing.