HC Deb 23 March 1994 vol 240 c234W
Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish details of the whole-time equivalent numbers of(a) agency and (b) bank nursing and midwifery staff employed in the NHS for each year since 1987.

Mr. Sackville

The information available is shown in the table.

Bank and agency nursing and midwifery staff—England at 30 September each year
Whole-time equivalents
Year Bank Agency
1987 4,920 6,130
1988 5,830 6,240
1989 5,910 7,230
1990 6,230 6,710
1991 8,540 3,930
1992 10,020 3,230

Notes:

1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

The increase in bank nurses and midwives together with the corresponding decrease in agency nurses and midwives reflects the more widespread flexible working arrangements in the NHS for nurses and midwives.