§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total number of(a) agency and (b) bank nurses currently employed by NHS trusts; and what is the average weekly cost of one of each to a trust. [2661]
§ Mr. HoramThere were 5,560 whole-time equivalent agency nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff employed in national health service trusts and 14,730 whole-time equivalent bank nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff employed by NHS trusts at September 1995—the latest date for which figures are available. The average weekly cost of an agency nurse and bank nurse to an NHS trust is not available centrally.