§ Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) nurses, (b) midwives and (c) health visitors (i) were in post in 1997 and (ii) are in post; what plans there are for the future numbers of each in the next five years; and if he will make a statement. [176119]
§ Mr. HuttonInformation on the numbers of nurses, midwives and health visitors employed in the national health service in September 1997 and 2003 is shown in the table.
There are 67,500 more qualified nurses, midwives and health visitors employed in the NHS than in 1997. The Government have already met the NHS Plan, manifesto and delivering the NHS Plan targets for increasing the nursing workforce and is on course to meet the NHS Plan target for increasing the number of students entering training to become a nurse or midwife. The Government acknowledge that the re are still more staff needed in these areas and we shall focus on increasing training places, retaining nursing staff and filling existing vacancies, it is for local NHS organisations to determine the number of nurses needed locally.
NHS HCHS: qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff as at 30 September each specified year
Headcount 1997 2003 Qualified nursing, midwifery and HV staff 318,856 386,359 Of which: Registered midwife 22,385 23,941 Health visitor 12,410 12,984 Source: Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.