§ 95. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Health what was, at the latest suitable date, the number of applicants for the courses and examinations of the General Nursing Council, the number of candidates successful, the number of nurses required, and the effects of this on the nursing profession.
§ Mr. LoughlinThe number of applicants for courses is not known. Between 1st November, 1965, and 31st October, 1966, 22,400 entered training for the register and 18,333 took the final examinations, of whom 13,185 were successful. Employing authorities' requirements for nurses are determined locally and in the absence of any established criterion it is not possible to give any meaningful figure for total requirements. Those students who do not complete their training successfully may transfer to training for the Roll but are otherwise lost to professional nursing. Those who fail the examination at first attempt usually sit it again.