HC Deb 18 December 2003 vol 415 cc1130-1W
Mr. Ruffley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average number of nurses per 100 beds was in(a) England and (b) the West Suffolk NHS Trust in each year since 1997. [143532]

Mr. Hutton

The information requested is shown in the table. Since 1997, the average number of nurses to every 100 beds in England has increased from 151 to 189 in 2002. In West Suffolk Hospitals National Health Service Trust, the number has increased from 100 to 127 in the same period.

NHS hospital and community health services: All qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff per one hundred 'total available beds' in England and the West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust as at 30 September each specified year
England West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust
Headcount Whole-time equivalent Headcount Whole-time equivalent
1996–97 151 124 100 72
1997–98 157 128 86 64
1998– 99 163 132 107 79
1999–2000 170 138 110 81
2000–01 178 143 121 93
2001–02 189 152 127 97

Notes:

Figures are rounded to the nearest whole-number

The 'total available beds' figure is the daily number of open and staffed beds on wards open overnight in NHS hospitals in England.

Source:

Department of Health Non-medical Workforce Census. 'Total available beds' figures are submitted annually on form KH03 by each NHS Trust

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