§ Dr. HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many unemployed doctors and nurses there are currently in the United Kingdom. [52802]
§ Mr. MilburnInformation about numbers of unemployed doctors and nurses is not available centrally.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what projections his Department has made of the number of doctors and nurses who will have to be recruited from outside the United Kingdom to fulfil his targets of 7,000 extra doctors and 15,000 extra nurses. [52807]
§ Mr. MilburnNumbers of doctors are expected to increase by up to 7,000 and numbers of nurses by up to 15,000 during the period 1998–2001. Our projections suggest that around half the doctors will be recruited from outside the United Kingdom. More nurses will complete the training each year, in which we have already invested. As the National Health Service offers more supportive and flexible family-friendly working environments, trusts will be able to attract and retain more nurses, some of whom may be from overseas, and encourage back in to practice those not currently working in their profession.