§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals the Government have for increasing the number of students in receipt of Project 2000 bursaries.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe number of students receiving bursaries will increase as more schemes are approved and funded to operate Project 2000. Sixty-four schemes have466W been established, with 17 remaining to be approved. An announcement will be made shortly concerning funding for new schemes in 1993–94.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the policy of the national health service towards the use of Project 2000 student nurses on clinical placements in the national health service.
§ Mr. SackvilleProject 2000 students are counted as part of the rostered work force for 20 per cent.—1,000 hours —of their training. This occurs towards the end of their course during the specialist branch programme. During the remainder of the course students are supernumerary, but gain experience in clinical placements under the supervision of qualified nurses.
Project 2000 students gain experience during clinical placements and contribute to patient care under supervision, but only to the extent that this provides opportunities for learning.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will extend the terms of reference of the review body for nursing staff, midwives and health visitors to cover the remuneration of Project 2000 students;
(2) what consideration is being given to the annual adjustment of bursaries paid to Project 2000 students so that they are comparable with average net basic salaries paid to existing student nurses;
(3) whether the same considerations relating to the adjustment to bursaries for Project 2000 students are being taking into account in 1993 as were taken into account in 1991.
§ Mr. SackvilleProject 2000 students are not salaried employees: they receive bursaries. There is, therefore, no question of extending the pay review body's remit to Project 2000 students.
Nor do we consider it appropriate to link the level of Project 2000 student bursaries to the current earning power of other student nurses because Project 2000 students are not employees.
Student bursary levels will continue, as in 1991, to be kept under review in the light of recruitment and retention trends.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the wastage rate for(a) Project 2000 nurses training and (b) other nurse training courses.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe average wastage rates for pre-registration nurse training are as follows.
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1990 Per cent. 1991 Per cent. 1992 Per cent. Traditional courses 5.4 5.3 4.7 Project 2000 courses 1.3 5.2 5.5
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what independent evaluation has taken place on the contribution of(a) Project 2000 student nurses and (b) other nurses in training in the NHS.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe National Foundation for Educational Research has been commissioned by the Department of Health to undertake a longitudinal study of the implementation of Project 2000. The National Foundation for Educational Research is due to report later this year. The study does not include other nurses in training in the national health service.