§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the net change in the number of(a) general practitioners, as defined in the NHS Plan (Cm 4818), (b) nurses, (c) consultants and (d) midwives was for each year since 1997 [160658]
§ Mr. HuttonThe net change in the number of general practitioners (GPs) (excluding GP retainers and GP registrars) nurses, consultants and midwives for each year since 1997 is shown in the table.
Between 2002 and 2003 there was the largest increase recorded in the number of nurses, GPs and consultants—bringing the total workforce in the national health service to its highest level yet.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) nurses and midwives and (b) medical consultants have been recruited through bilateral agreements, broken down by country. [164291]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Philippine Government last year. To date the National Health Service has recruited 186 nurses through the agreement.
The Department has a bilateral agreement with the Ministry of Health in Spain. To date the NHS has recruited 892 nurses/midwives and 18 medical consultants as a result of this agreement.
The Department has an agreement with the Ministry of Health in India. To date the NHS has recruited 431 nurses/midwives and 136 medical consultants as a result of this agreement.
The Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indonesian Government in 2002. To date the NHS has recruited four nurses through the agreement.
We have recent signed a Memorandum of Understanding with South Africa to offer South African and English healthcare professionals the chance to go on time-limited placements to the other country.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses recruited through bilateral agreements are working in the NHS. [164292]
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§ Mr. Hutton1,513 nurses currently working in the national health service have been recruited through bilateral agreements.
431 nurses have been recruited from India, four from Indonesia, 186 from the Philippines and 892 from Spain.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department plans to monitor the number of nurses not trained in the UK working in the NHS. [164293]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Nursing and Midwifery Council holds information on the number of nurses and midwives from overseas entering the register each year. This information can be found at www.nmc-uk.org.