§ Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what actions his Department has taken to encourage a return to NHS practice by those who had previously worked in the NHS as midwives; how many such individuals have returned to practice in each year since 1992; what targets have been set in this area; and if he will make a statement. [185964]
§ Mr. HuttonAll midwives deciding to return to the national health service are eligible for a returners package including a £1,500 bursary to support them whilst they are retraining. There is also financial support for childcare, travel and books. The chief nursing officer has contacted former midwives by letter to encourage them to return to the NHS. To support this, the Department allocated £750,000 to workforce development confederations in 2003–04 to fund 500 return to practice places for midwives. To encourage returners, a new NHS careers return to practice guide for midwives was published in January 2004. Copies are available in the Library. In addition, the Department has funded the Royal College of Midwives, in collaboration with Open University, to design a flexible return to practice open learning programme.
Since the national return to practice programme commenced in 1999, over 17,000 former nurses, midwives and health visitors have returned to the NHS. Data for the period prior to 1999 is not available.