Nurses (Hansard, 20 November 2003)

§ Mr. Flook
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) hospital and (b) community full-time equivalent nurses were employed by (i) Taunton and Somerset NHS Hospital Trust and (ii) Taunton Deane Primary Care Trust in each year since 1997. [137379]

§ Ms Rosie Winterton
The number of hospital and community full-time equivalent nurses employed by the Taunton and Somerset National Health Service1402W Hospital Trust and Taunton Deane Primary Care Trust are shown in the table as well as the number in Somerset Coast PCT and Mendip PCT.

Qualified NHS nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff by hospital and community-based, in the specified organisations as at 30 September each year

Whole-time equivalent

All qualified nursing staff Community Hospital

Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust

2002 879 5 874

2001 975 74 901

2000 1,107 164 943

1999 1,090 167 923

1998 1,034 155 879

1997 1,056 144 912

Taunton Deane PCT

2002 85 48 37

2001 ¹— ¹— ¹—

2000 ¹— ¹— ¹—

1999 ¹— ¹— ¹—

1998 ¹— ¹— ¹—

1997 ¹— ¹— ¹—

Somerset Coast PCT

2002 184 92 92

2001 181 96 85

2000 ¹— ¹— ¹—

1999 ¹— ¹— ¹—

1998 ¹— ¹— ¹—

1997 ¹— ¹— ¹—

Mendip PCT

2002 139 42 97

2001 132 35 97

2000 ¹— ¹— ¹—

1999 ¹— ¹— ¹—

1998 ¹— ¹— ¹—

1997 ¹— ¹— ¹—

¹ Not applicable.

Notes
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.
2. Maternity nurse figures have been included within Hospital as they cannot be separately identified between Community and Hospital.
3. In 2001 Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust transferred staff to Somerset Coast PCT and Mendip PCT.
4. In 2002 Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust transferred further staff to Taunton Deane PCT.

§ Dr. Cable
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the National Health Service spent on hiring agency nursing staff in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [136871]

§ Mr. Hutton
Provisional figures for 2002–03 are shown in the table.

Expenditure on Agency Nurses in England—2002–2003

Agency nursing staff £

National Health Service Trusts 553,065,986

Strategic Health Authorities 21,579

primary Care Trust 73,685,708

Total 626,773,273

§ Mr. Burstow
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) district nurses and (b) health visitors there were by (i) headcount and (ii) whole-time equivalent in (A) England and (B) each region in each of the last six years. [138351]
1403W

§ Mr. Hutton
District nurses and health visitors are part of the qualified community nursing workforce. Between 1997 and 2002, the qualified community nursing workforce has increased by 17 per cent. Information on the community nursing workforce is shown in the table by national health service regional office area between 1997 and 2001 and by Government offices for the regions and strategic health authority area in 2002.

Qualified NHS nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff by hospital and community-based, in the specified organisations as at 30 September each year
Whole-time equivalent
	All qualified nursing staff	Community	Hospital
Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust
2002	879	5	874
2001	975	74	901
2000	1,107	164	943
1999	1,090	167	923
1998	1,034	155	879
1997	1,056	144	912
Taunton Deane PCT
2002	85	48	37
2001	¹—	¹—	¹—
2000	¹—	¹—	¹—
1999	¹—	¹—	¹—
1998	¹—	¹—	¹—
1997	¹—	¹—	¹—
Somerset Coast PCT
2002	184	92	92
2001	181	96	85
2000	¹—	¹—	¹—
1999	¹—	¹—	¹—
1998	¹—	¹—	¹—
1997	¹—	¹—	¹—
Mendip PCT
2002	139	42	97
2001	132	35	97
2000	¹—	¹—	¹—
1999	¹—	¹—	¹—
1998	¹—	¹—	¹—
1997	¹—	¹—	¹—
¹ Not applicable.

Expenditure on Agency Nurses in England—2002–2003
Agency nursing staff	£
National Health Service Trusts	553,065,986
Strategic Health Authorities	21,579
primary Care Trust	73,685,708
Total	626,773,273