The following table shows the number of nurses and midwives employed in the public health service in each of the years 1997 to 2005 and latest available figure for 2006.
|
1997
|
1998
|
1999
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
June 2006
|
Nurses (WTE)
|
25,611
|
26,611
|
27,044
|
29,177
|
31,429
|
33,395
|
33,766
|
34,313
|
35,248
|
35,818
|
Nurses Individuals
|
28,982
|
30,301
|
30,875
|
33,474
|
36,089
|
39,119
|
40,119
|
40,721
|
41,846
|
42,311
|
The health service has been successful in attracting nurses and midwives into the workforce over the last number of years. The number of whole time equivalent nurses and midwives employed in the public health service has increased by 10,207 (39.9%) during the period 1997 to June 2006. In addition to the above, the Government has provided significantly enhanced education programmes for student nurses. A total of 1,880 places on undergraduate nursing and midwifery education programmes are now available each year.