Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at which locations student nurse training places are provided; how many of the places at each location have been filled by applicants; if there is a shortage of nurses in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement. [65291]
§ Mr. McFallPre-registration student nurse training is commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Services through a contract arrangement with Queen's university of Belfast. For 1998–99 the number of pre-registration places included in the contract were 425, of which 419 were taken up by applicants.
I am satisfied that we do not face the same nursing recruitment and retention difficulties as there may be in other parts of the United Kingdom. There is no immediate concern about a shortage of nurses available to meet the requirements of the HPSS in Northern Ireland. However, I have asked my Department to monitor the situation.