§ Mr. BowisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing and midwifery staff there were in each broad pay group in 1989 and 1990; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe information is shown in table 1.
The fall in the number of senior nurses is largely attributable to the voluntary transfer of more than 600 senior nurses to the senior manager pay structure.
The fall in the number of nurse learners is largely attributable to the cessation of enrolled nurse training and to the introduction of Project 2000. The estimated number of Project 2000 students in training in 1989 and 1990 is shown in table 2. Because of their supernumerary status, Project 2000 students are not included in statistics relating to staff in post.
Table 1 National Health Service hospital and community health services Nursing and midwifery staff in post (excluding agency staff) Whole-time equivalents at 30 September England As at 30 September 1989 Whole-time equivalents As at 30 September 1990 Whole-time equivalents Senior nurses 3,010 2,350 Nurse educators 5,300 5,610 Qualified staff in clinical grades 246,850 247,520 Nurse learners 51,050 46,210 Other nursing staff (including unqualified) 91,860 93,670 TOTAL 398,060 395,360 Figures rounded to the nearest ten. Source: Department of Health (SM 13) Annual Census of National Health Service non-medical manpower.
5W
Table 2 Estimated number of Project 2000 students in training As at 30 September 1989 Number As at 30 September 1990 Number 200 4,700