HC Deb 21 May 2002 vol 386 cc314-6W
Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria are used to decide which NHS nurses in Mid Essex will receive the new living allowances; and whether auxiliary nurses without an NVQ qualification will receive the allowances. [56490]

Yvette Cooper

[holding answer 15 May 2002]: From 1 April qualified nurses (grades C and above) in Essex are eligible for cost of living supplements of up to £600 per year.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultation he has had with nurse managers concerning the return of nurses to the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [56652]

Mr. Hutton

Ministers meet front line staff regularly, including nurse managers to discuss recruitment, retention and return.

In addition, on 5 February 2002 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State held a meeting on recruitment, retention and return attended by a number of nurse managers from the national health service.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many qualified health visitors are available to supervise the return of nurses to the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [56710]

Mr. Hutton

This information is not collected centrally.

Local work force development confederations organise return to practice programmes, in conjunction with higher education institutes and local national health service organisations. This includes the organisation of supervising work placements.

The Department is working closely with the Community Practitioner and Health Visitor Association to look at ways to extend efforts to bring health visitors back into the NHS.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent consultation he has had with health visitors as to the supervision of nurses returning to the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [56654]

Mr. Hutton

Ministers meet front line staff regularly, including health visitors to discuss recruitment, retention and return.

At the Community Practitioner and Health Visitor Association (CPHVA) conference in November 2001, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State emphasised the Government's commitment to bring health visitors back to the national health service. The Department is currently working with the CPHVA to take this work forward.

In addition, on 5 February 2002 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State held a nursing summit on recruitment, retention and return attended by the director of CPHVA.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of those nurses who have indicated they wish to return to the NHS he calculates have home commitments that prevent them from attending the necessary out-of-area training sessions; where such courses are available; how long they are; what the cost of the courses was in the last 12 months and if he will make a statement. [56712]

Mr. Hutton

Information about the home commitments of potential returners is not collected centrally.

Work force development confederations organise and fund a range of part-time, full-time and distance learning return to practice courses which may vary in length, according to the needs of the returner and the vacancies available.

Return-to-practice courses are free to the returner, who is entitled to financial support of at least £1,000 while retraining. Further financial assistance is available to cover the costs of books and travel. The returners package also offers child care support where needed.

In 2001–02, the Department distributed a total of £11 million to work force development confederations to fund return-to-practice initiatives and refresher training. 4,385 health care professionals returned, of which 3,763 were nurses, midwives and health visitors. An additional 2,030 health care professionals are on their way back in.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses who wish to return to the NHS have so far been offered places; how long on average they have been out of practice; and if he will make a statement. [56709]

Mr. Hutton

This information is not collected centrally.

Since the first recruitment campaign in 1999, over 10,000 qualified nurses, midwives and health visitors have returned to the national health service.

71 per cent. of nurses who contacted the NHS in 2001–02 about returning practised more than five years ago. No further breakdown is collected.

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