Nurse recruitment 'on target'

The government says its recruitment campaign is working

The government is "on course" to meet nursing recruitment targets, it was announced on Wednesday.

Provisional Department of Health (DoH) figures show the number of nurses and midwives working in the NHS has seen a net increase of 10,000 over the last year, though just 7,000 are full-time.

The NHS Plan set out a targeted increase in NHS nurses of 20,000 between 1999 and 2004 and Wednesday's figures mean there has already been a net increase of 16,000.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said the numbers were encouraging.

Health Secretary Alan Milburn said it was important to focus attention not just on recruitment, but also on the retention of nurses.

These figures suggest that the NHS Plan is well on course to be delivered

Alan Milburn, Health Secretary

The number of beds in NHS hospitals has also increased.

Information gathered in November reveals the number of general and acute beds in NHS hospitals increased by 1,225, compared to the same time the previous year.

Mr Milburn said: "The investment going into the NHS is biting.

"The NHS is the fastest growing health service of any major country in Europe.

"Decades of under-investment have left today's NHS with very real problems but progress is now underway.

"These figures suggest that the NHS Plan is well on course to be delivered.

"There are still nurse shortages but the corner has been turned."

Better pay

Mr Milburn went on to announce a five-point plan to ensure the continued success of recruitment and retention of nurses.

He said: "There is more to do to ensure nurses come to work in the NHS and stay with the NHS.

"That means improving nurses' pay, providing more childcare and giving nurses a bigger say in local health services."

Nurses are returning to the profession

The plan includes continuing the national, local and international recruitment campaign all year round, a fairer deal on pay and further improvements to child care facilities.

There will also be continued international recruitment, including new national agreements with those countries who have a domestic surplus of qualified nurses, such as Spain and the Philippines.

An RCN spokeswoman said: "Any increase in nursing numbers is good news and we recognise the government is committed to increasing the nursing workforce.

Training uptake

"However, it's not enough simply to recruit nurses, we have to make sure they stay.

"This can only be done by improving pay and working conditions.

Shadow Health Secretary Dr Liam Fox said: "As ever the Government only gives half a story.

"The total number of nurses available for the care and treatment of patients is dependent not only on recruitment but also the numbers leaving the profession.

"It is a sad event. Even with their recent experience ministers can't resist spinning."

The DoH figures show the NHS has seen a net gain of 27,000 nurses and midwives since 1997.

Between 1998 and 2000, the number of applications for nursing and midwifery training rose from 18,732 to 34,943 - an increase of 86%.

Those actually entering training courses rose from 14,984 in 1997 to 20,021 in 2001 - an increase of 33%.

Since 1999, when the government's current recruitment campaign was launched, more than 10,000 qualified former NHS employees have returned to the NHS.