HC Deb 23 February 1999 vol 326 c219W
Mrs. Laing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many full-time nurses are employed by the NHS in Scotland. [71867]

Mr. Galbraith

The latest provisional data available indicate that as at 30 September 1998 there were 24,936 nurses and midwives employed on a full-time basis by the NHS in Scotland.

From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

Mrs. Laing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of nurses who have completed nursing training in Scotland since May 1997 have then taken up a nursing job in the NHS in Scotland. [71866]

Mr. Galbraith

This information is not held centrally.

From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

Mrs. Laing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many nurses have been(a) recruited and (b) trained in Scotland since May 1997. [71875]

Mr. Galbraith

The available information is as follows:

  1. (a) According to provisional figures, there were 2,845 nurses and midwives employed in the NHS in Scotland at 30 September 1998 who had joined since September 1997.
  2. (b) 2,855 student nurses have successfully completed basic training since 1 May 1997.

The 2 sets of data are not comparable because they derive from different sources, and in particular because the figures on recruits to employment:

  1. (i) includes midwives as well as nurses
  2. (ii) includes rejoiners as well as new entrants
  3. (iii) excludes nurses working in general practices, banks and agencies.

From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

Source: Employment Data—Information and Statistics Division of the Common Services Agency for the NHS in Scotland Training Data—National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Scotland.