§ Mr. Charles Morrisonasked the Minister of Health how much below strength of the district nursing services are; and what steps he is taking to increase the number of nurses in this service.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI regret that the information required in the first part of the Question is not available centrally. But increases in the numbers of district nurses over the 10 years to 1963 have more than kept pace with the rise in population; and local health authorities plan a substantial increase over the next 10 years. The Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council is currently considering a180W claim for increases in pay; and has already announced increased training allowances for student nurses which should stimulate recruitment.