HC Deb 30 July 1997 vol 299 c392W
Mr. Gibb

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many community mental health nurses were employed in the NHS in each year since 1979. [10904]

Mr. Milburn

[holding answer 28 July 1997]: The number of community mental health nurses employed by the NHS in each year since 1981—the earliest year for which figures are available—is shown in the table.

NHS hospital and community health services nursing staff in the community psychiatric area of work1 England, at 30 September each year
Whole time equivalents
Year Nursing staff in the community psychiatric area1
1981 1,080
1982 1,270
1983 1,430
1984 1,880
1985 2,310
1986 2,530
1987 2,770
1988 3,080
1989 3,380
1990 3,600
1991 3,760
1992 4,210
1993 4,320
1994 4,760
19952 7,980
19962 10,530

Notes:

1 Includes qualified, unqualified and other nursing staff working in the community psychiatric area of work.

2 A new classification of non-medical NHS staff was introduced in 1995. Information based on this classification is not directly comparable with earlier years.

Figures are rounded to the neared 10 whole-time equivalents.

Source:

Department of Health non-medical work force census.