§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average qualified nurse to patient ratio in each of the last five years by region.
§ Mr. SackvilleI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 18 April 1994,Official Report, column 401, for the years 1989–90 to 1992–93. Information for 1993–94 is shown in the table. Community nursing figures, which increased from 29,870 in 1987 to 37,520 in 1993—25.6 per cent.—have not been included in the qualified 307W nursing and midwifery totals as community patient data is not collected centrally. Figures for qualified staff show all qualified nursing and midwifery staff, including senior nurses and midwives but excluding those nurses who have transferred to senior management terms but still have a clinical role to play, but who cannot be identified separately from other senior managers. It also excludes pre and post-registration learners and Project 2000 nursing students, those nurses employed through an agency or bank arrangements.
Qualified nurses and midwives excluding community and agency staff by region-England 30 September total in-patient finished consultant episodes Year 1993–94 Qualified nursing and midwifery staff WTEs (excluding community) Ordinary admissions Northern 15,450 556,147 Yorkshire 16,270 653,378 Trent 18,990 764,167 East Anglia 8,430 334,967 NW Thames 12,860 451,670 NE Thames 15,870 615,132 SE Thames 13,850 565,347 SW Thames 12,030 438,731 Wessex 12,650 491,997 Oxford 9,980 374,205 South Western 14,160 564,886 West Midlands 21,750 869,994 Mersey 10,600 450,427 Northern Western 19,010 757,915 Total 201,890 7,888,963 Source:
KM70 and NHS Non-Medical Census.
Notes:
1. "Ordinary Admissions" is the term used for "In-Patient consultant episodes".
2. Ordinary Admissions are taken for the year 1 April to 31 March.
3. Qualified Nursing and Midwifery Staff are as at 30 September-ie. for the 1989–90 year the figure is as at 30 September 1989.