§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what targets have been set for the director of international recruitment for health services for the number of foreign recruited nurses working for the NHS. [58033]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 21 May 2002]: A combination of international recruitment, return to practice, improved retention and increased output from training has meant that the NHS Plan increase of 20,000 more nurses by 2004 has been achieved well in advance of the 2004 target.
A similar approach will be used to ensure achievement of the new targets for increases in the nursing work force.