§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nurses have undertaken advanced training courses which lead to specialisation in fields such as intensive care in each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. NewtonI regret that information is not available in the form requested prior to 1985. The numbers of registered nurses entering selected specialised post-basic training courses since 1985 are as follows:
Number of nurses entering selected post-basic training courses Year ending 31 March: England 1985 1986 1987 General intensive care 649 436 502 Coronary care 71 60 61 Renal care 134 132 140 Operating department nursing 353 272 249 Special intensive care of the newborn 287 278 393
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nurses were in training in each of the past 10 years.
§ Mr. NewtonI regret that the information is not available in the form requested. However, the number of nurses commencing basic nurse training in each of the past 10 years is as follows:
Intake of students and pupils to basic nurse training year ending 31 March: England Students Pupils Total 1978 18,200 11,210 29,410 1979 22,600 12,770 35,370 1980 20,540 12,080 32,620 1981 19,630 11,290 30,920 1982 20,200 11,600 31,800 1983 18,950 10,890 29,840 1984 17,670 7,300 24,970 1985 19,210 6,320 25,530 1986 18,600 5,100 23,700 1987 18,430 4,390 22,820 Notes:
(1) Actual figures for England are not available prior to 1984. Figures are therefore assumed to be 95 per cent. of those for England and Wales.
(2) Figures are rounded to nearest 10.
(3) The decline in the number of pupils undertaking enrolled nurse training is partly due to the uncertainty about the future of such training, whose cessation has been proposed by the UKCC in Project 2000.
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§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what financial incentives exist to encourage nurses to undertake more advanced nursing training which leads to specialisation in such fields as intensive care.
§ Mr. NewtonCurrently there are specific financial incentives though post-basic training and expertise may improve prospects of promotion. Recently, the Nursing and Midwifery Staffs Negotiating Council has reached agreement on new grading definitions for nursing and midwifery staff designed to recognise and reward clinical skills appropriately.
§ Ms. HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many nurses left the National Health Service other than at retirement age in each of the last five years;
(2) what is the average number of years worked by nurses in the National Health Service.
§ Mr. NewtonI regret that the information requested is not available.
§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total level of expenditure on pay for nurses, in cash and constant 1986–87 prices, in each year since 1973.
§ Mr. NewtonFollowing is the information requested derived from the annual accounts of health authorities in England and for 1973–74, those of their predecessor hospital authorities:
National Health Service staff salaries and wages: Nurses and midwives Per annual accounts £ million At 1986–87 prices £ million 1973–74 416 1,732 1974–75 744 2,596 1975–76 965 2,679 1976–77 1,112 2,728 1977–78 1,206 2,597 1978–79 1,354 2,634 1979–80 1,649 2,745 1980–81 2,294 3,221 1981–82 2,511 3,211 1982–83 2,713 3,236 1983–84 2,828 3,225 1984–85 3,034 3,314 1985–86 3,210 3,307 1986–87 3,495 3,495 Notes:
1. The figures for the earlier years have been expressed at 1986–87 prices by the use of the Gross Domestic Product deflator.
2. The figures for 1973–74 are not comparable to those for later years as prior to National Health Service re-organisation (1 April 1974) responsibility for community health and ambulance services rested with local government authorities.
3. The figures for 1974–75 include an element of estimation being based on an incomplete return from health authorities.
4. Expenditure on non-National Health Service staff (agency, etc.) nurses and midwives is excluded.
§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what the levels of nursing staff were in(a) Sunderland district health authority, (b) Durham district health authority and (c) Hartlepool district health authority in the years 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85 and 1985–86.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe information requested is given in the table.
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NHS Nursing and midwifery staff in post1at 30 September of each year Whole time equivalent2 District Health Authority 1982 1983 1984 1985 1985 Sunderland 2,490 2,570 2,520 2,580 2,590 Durham 1,100 1,090 1,110 1,160 1,160 Hartlepool 790 790 780 790 840 Source: DHSS Annual census of NHS non-medical manpower. 1 Includes qualified nurses and midwives, learners and unqualified staff. Agency staff are also included. 2 Figures are independently rounded to nearest 10 whole-time equivalents.
§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to set up an inquiry into the health of nurses; what are the present arrangements for monitoring their health; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Newton[holding answer 16 December 1987]: It is for employing health authorities in discharging their responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to promote, maintain and improve the health and well-being of all staff. Arrangements for the monitoring of staff health is a matter for individual authorities in the light of local circumstances.