§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how long he estimates it will take to retrain all state enrolled nurses who have currently expressed an interest in retraining in each health authority in England and Wales;
(2) what moneys he intends to make available to the health authorities for state enrolled nurses to undergo conversion courses.
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§ Mr. MellorMy right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State has given an assurance that the Government regard enrolled nurse conversion and plans for safeguarding the continued contribution of those who do not convert as an integral part of the implementation of the Project 2000 reforms of nurse education and training. Thirteen Project demonstration districts have submitted plans for enrolled nurse conversion, and funding has been made available to those districts. The overall timetable for the national implementation of Project 2000 has not yet been decided.
The number of training institutions approved to conduct conversion courses has increased from six in 1985–86 to 138 in December 1988. We welcome the guidance which has been issued by the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing Midwifery and Health Visiting on more flexible means of conversion.
§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many state enrolled nurses have been accepted for retraining this year in each health authority in England and Wales;
(2) what is the current size of the list of state enrolled nurses waiting to be retrained by each health authority in England and Wales.
§ Mr. MellorWe do not collect this information for England centrally. Information relating to Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.