§ 49. Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the present number of untrained nursing aides and auxiliaries at present employed in the National Health Service; if he includes this category within the total figures issued by his Department for nurses employed; and what steps his Department is taking to protect the professional and legal status attaching to the title of nurse.
§ Mr. NewtonThe whole-time equivalent number of National Health Service staff directly employed as nursing 159W auxiliaries, nursing assistants and other unqualified nursing staff was 91,600 in England at 30 September 1985 (the latest date for which such detail is available). This figure excludes nurse learners undertaking basic nurse training and those undertaking post-basic training such as midwifery, health visiting and district nursing.
These staff are normally included by the Department in the presentation of figures relating to total nursing and midwifery staff.
The professional and legal status attaching to the title of nurse is covered by sections 10 to 14 of the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1979.