asked the Minister for Health the estimated increase or decrease in the percentage of trained nurses employed in hospitals since June 1977.
Written Answers. - Nursing Staffs.
175.
Since June 1977, 527 extra posts of trained nurse have been approved. This represents an increase of 3.5 per cent in the number of trained nurses employed.
176.
asked the Minister for Health the estimated percentage of nursing staff accounted for by trainee nurses.
Twenty-six per cent of nursing staff is accounted for by trainee nurses.
177.
asked the Minister for Health the estimated percentage of hospital expenses accounted for by nurses' and allied staffs' pay.
The information which is immediately available relates to pay costs of nursing and allied staffs in acute general hospitals. The estimated percentage for 1978 is 29.5 per cent.