§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will give the latest estimates of the nurses who return to nursing each year;
(2) what schemes his Department is currently operating to encourage nurses to return to nursing.
§ Mr. MellorWe estimate that in the last year about 7,200 nurses and midwives returned to practice in the NHS in England.
Employing authorities locally are best placed to judge the opportunity and need for return to nursing campaigns. 132W At national level we have helped by part-funding the Department of Health/Nursing Times "Recruit and Retain" campaign which has covered good practice on return to nursing and by analysing the professional register to identify inactive nurses by place of residence so that properly targeted local campaigns can be run. Next year, we plan to produce publicity and other material for use locally and are currently conducting a survey to identify the most useful types of material.
§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those district health authorities and Scottish health authorities which charge for a refresher course for those nurses wishing to return to nursing and those authorities which run free courses.
§ Mr. MellorWe do not collect this information for England. This is a matter for individual health authorities.
Information for Scotland is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.