§ 13. Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the level of recruitment of nurses into the National Health Service.
§ Mr. NewtonThe level of recruitment of nurses in the National Health Service varies between locality and specialty. Provisional figures for 30 September 1987 show the highest number of nursing and midwifery staff ever—405,200 — and overall between September 1979 and September 1987 nursing and midwifery staff in England increased by nearly 47,000 whole-time equivalents. Nevertheless, the National Health Service, particularly in London and the south-east is facing the same decline in the number of suitably qualified school leavers as other large employers. We have, therefore, announced a range of measures on accommodation, the grading structure and training designed to improve recruitment and retention.