§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many qualified nurses left the profession58W within one year of completing their initial training in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the impact of this loss of trained nurses on patient care. [120398]
§ Mr. DenhamThis information is not collected centrally. We recognise the contribution nurses make to patient care and we are therefore committed to encouraging them to stay in the National Health Service once they have qualified. NHS employers are becoming more flexible with the working patterns they are offering, thus allowing nurses to balance their lives at work and home. The number of qualified nurses working in the NHS increased by over 5,500 between September 1998 and September 1999.