HC Deb 06 July 1999 vol 334 cc492-3W
27. Mr. Shaw

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to encourage nurses to return to the NHS. [88265]

Mr. Denham

The Government are supporting a number of initiatives to encourage nurses to return to practice in the National Health Service.

On 1 February, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced a £5 million nursing recruitment campaign outlining improved pay and conditions for nurses and targeting, in particular, trained nurses who are no longer working in the NHS. The campaign attracted a very encouraging response with over 53,000 inquiries, 5,000 of which were from potential returners. Since the campaign began, over 1,000 nurses have returned to employment in the NHS, in England.

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