§ 16. Mr. Simon Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he will take to reduce the number of nurses leaving the National Health Service for nursing jobs abroad.
§ Mr. NewtonNurses are free to seek employment wherever they choose. The National Health Service, being the major employer of nursing staff, is bound to lose some qualified staff abroad. We do however recognise the need to recruit and retain qualified staff and the recent pay increases for nurses, ranging from 5 per cent. to 12.7 per cent., are largest for qualified staff and reflected this need. There are also other central initiatives which have implications for the recruitment and retention of qualified staff.