§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he can now make a statement on his response to Project 2000 report on the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting; and if he will make a further statement on the Government's new countrywide campaign to encourage former nurses to return to work and to recruit and retain new nurses.
§ Mr. NewtonThe Government are considering proposals from the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for the reform of nurse education and training. We hope to be in a position to respond in the near future.
The national nurse publicity campaign and the careers literature, videos an exhibition materials produced by the Department are being revised and will be extended to support local activity in regions and districts including campaigns to attract back those nurses who have left the service. I also recently launched the joint DHSS-Nursing Times "Recruit and Retain" campaign which is to run through 1988 with the aim of increasing awareness and 601W understanding of the recruitment and retention challenge and to spread good practice in recruitment and manpower planning among Health Service managers.