§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what assessment he has made of the problems that will arise in respect of nurse recruitment in the border counties of Wales if the full introduction of the Project 2000 training initiative for nurses is not implemented as originally planned in 1990–91;
(2) what assessment he has made of the problems that will arise in respect of nurse recruitment in health authorities in Wales if the full introduction of the Project 2000 training initiative for nurses is not implemented as originally planned in 1990–91;
(3) what assessment he has made of the problems that will arise in respect of nurse morale in Wales if the introduction of the Project 2000 training initiative for nurses is not fully implemented as originally planned in 1990–91;
(4) what assessment he has made of the problems that will arise in respect of administrative and personnel matters if the introduction of the Project 2000 training initiative for nurses is not fully implemented as originally planned in 1990–91;
(5) what assessment he has made of the problems that will arise in respect of manpower planning in health authorities in Wales if the introduction of the Project 2000 training initiative for nurses is not fully implemented as originally planned in 1990–91.
§ Mr. GristThe decision to phase implementation of Project 2000 in Wales was taken in the light of information obtained from draft implementation plans submitted by district health authorities, the financial implications of a simultaneous all-Wales implementation set against the resource requirements of the Health Service in Wales generally, and the complex planning task at the local level 355W in laying the foundations for the educational reforms which Project 2000 involves. The implications of the decision to phase for manpower issues are being addressed as part of the manpower resource planning process, and other work undertaken by the manpower steering group with health authorities in the wider context of demographic trends and increased competition in the employment field. There will also be administrative implications which each individual health authority will need to address.
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make it his policy that the Project 2000 initiative on nurse training shall be implemented in south-east Wales, including Newport and Cardiff, in 1990–91.
§ Mr. GristNo. It has been decided that there should be a phased approach to the implementation of Project 2000 in Wales with the new courses commencing in north Wales in 1991, in west Wales in 1992 and south-east Wales in 1993. The possibility of bringing forward the south-east Wales start to 1992 will be kept under review.
§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will announce the detailed timetable for the full introduction of the Project 2000 training initiative for nurses in each part of Wales, giving the specific implementation dates for each health authority in Wales.
§ Mr. GristImplementation of Project 2000 in Wales will proceed on a phased basis commencing with the introduction of the new courses in north Wales (Clwyd and Gwynedd) in autumn 1991, in west Wales (Pembrokeshire, East Dyfed, West Glamorgan and Powys) in 1992, and in south-east Wales (Mid Glamorgan, South Glamorgan and Gwent) in 1993. In the case of west and south-east Wales, it is possible for the courses to begin in the spring of the relevant year, thus involving a delay of only six and 18 months respectively over the original planning assumption.
The possibility of bringing forward the south-east Wales start to 1992 will be kept under review.