§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of nursing posts are vacant in the Portsmouth and South-East Hampshire health authority; and if he will make a statement. [21797]
§ Jacqui SmithThe Department of Health Vacancy Survey, March 2001, indicated a three month vacancy rate of 3.4 per cent. That equates to 60 vacant posts across the health authority area. We have introduced a number of initiatives to increase the number of nurses in the national health service, most recently funding for additional nurses in accident and emergency.