§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) district nurses and (b) health visitors were in training in each year since 1997. [164865]
§ Mr. HuttonThe number of district nurses and health visitors in training in each year since 1997 is shown in the table.
Number of district nurses and health visitors in training Health visitors District nurses 1997–98 627 603 1998–99 580 541 1999–2000 598 573 2000–01 695 560 2001–02 580 521 2002–031 664 569 1 Forecast There has been significant growth in the number of community service nurses other than health visitors and district nurses. Since 1997 there has been an increase of 11,974(61.9 per cent.) in such nurses.
These figures reflect that changing nature of the nursing workforce and the increasing skill mix in community nursing teams. Health visiting teams are also increasing their skill mix through initiatives that are 228W promoting integrated children's services where health visitors work as part of Sure Start and other community children's teams.
It is the responsibility of primary care trusts to determine how they use the extra growth money allocated, to deliver on both national and local priorities.
§ Mr. BurstowTo a k the Secretary of State for Health how much he estimates it costs to train(a) 250 district nurses and (b) 250 health visitors. [164868]
§ Mr. HuttonThe contract for training community nurses does not differentiate between different branches of nursing, such as district nurses and health visitors.
Based on the average cost of the contract it would cost £5.9 million to train 250 district nurses and 250 health visitors.