§ Geraldine SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps the Government have taken to recruit nurses to the NHS since 1 May 1997: [65537]
(2) what steps the Government have taken to improve recruitment to nursing in the NHS since 1 May 1997. [67618]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Government are implementing a range of measures to improve recruitment and retention of all staff, including nurses. These include an increase in pay, encouraging the national health service to become a better employer through the "Improving Working Lives and Positively Diverse" programmes, increasing training commissions, reducing student attrition, running national and local recruitment and return to practice campaigns, and1042W supporting international recruitment where appropriate. Further information on improving working lives is available at www.doh.gov.uk/iwl.
Since 1997. the nursing work force has grown by 31,520. Between September 1999 and September 2001 there was a net increase in nurses working in the NHS of 20,740—the NHS Plan target has been reached two years early. Pay will have increased across the board for nurses and midwives by at least 26 per cent. since 1997 in cash terms.