§ Lord Molloyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they accept the conclusions of a recent survey by the Health Visitors' Association, that there has been a sharp drop in the numbers of health visitors being trained in the current academic year, and, if so, what steps they are taking to reverse this trend.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege)Official figures for the number of health visitor students in training in the academic year 1st September 1993 to 31st August 1994 are not yet available. The information will be placed in the Library. Arrangements for the92WA training of non-medical staff, which includes health visitors, are based on employment-led demand for newly qualified staff.
§ Lord Molloyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the number of health visitors employed and in training is sufficient to implement national health initiatives such as those set out in Health of the Nation.
§ Baroness CumberlegeLocal employers will be aware of their responsibilities to implement such national health initatives as those set out inHealth of the Nation and we will have reflected their requirements for qualified health visiting staff based on their projected requirements in the light of the services they are contracted to supply.
§ Lord Molloyasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many health visitors were employed by region (in whole time equivalents) at the latest available date; whether this represents a decline since 1988; and if so, what action they will take.
§ Baroness CumberlegeThe information requested is set out in the table. Figures are not available for Wales. Available information shows no significant change in whole time equivalent (wte) health visitors employed in English regions and Scotland combined from 1988 to 1992. Employers will have considered their future requirements for qualified health visitors based on their projected requirements in the light of the services they are contracted to supply and are therefore able to make any required adjustments.
Health Visitors by region for England 1988 and 1992, wte 1988 1992 Northern RHA 720 680 Yorkshire RHA 850 790 Trent RHA 1,000 990 East Anglian RHA 390 350 North West Thames RHA 830 710 North East Thames RHA 750 760 South East Thames RHA 790 770 South West Thames RHA 680 560 Wessex RHA 620 620 Oxford RHA 580 580 South Western RHA 690 670 West Midlands RHA 1,100 1,120 Mersey RHA 540 490 North Western RHA 1,140 1,150 SHAs/Others — — ENGLAND TOTAL 10,680 10,250 SCOTLAND TOTAL 1,473 1,503 NORTHERN IRELAND TOTAL 1— 483 1 The number of health visitors for Northern Ireland in 1988 is not available. In addition there has been an increase of 268 per cent. over the same period in the number of practice nurses in England, Scotland and Wales, some of whom have health visitor qualifications. The number of practice nurses for Northern Ireland is not available.