§ Mrs. Knightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of persons who left the nursing profession before retirement age in the years 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969.
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§ Dr. John DunwoodyI regret that such an estimate is not possible on the basis of the information centrally available. Many nurses resign to marry, bring up a family or for other reasons and subsequently return to the service. Between 1965 and 1969 there was a net increase of nearly 24,000—in terms of whole-time equivalents—in the number of nurses working in National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales.
§ Mrs. Knightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now make a further statement on plans to lower the age of entry into the nursing profession.
§ Mr. CrossmanThe matter is still under consideration by the General Nursing Council as indicated in my reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Lomas) on 19th December, 1969.—[Vol. 793, c.477.]