The number of community matrons, health visitors and school nurses in post in primary care trusts (PCTs) at September 2005 is shown in the table.
Health visitors (England) 1997 10,025 1998 12,572 1999 12,800 2000 12,827 2001 13,053 2002 12,774 2003 12,984 2004 13,303 2005 12,818
The number of health visitors has increased by 2,793 (28 per cent.) since 1997.
School nurses were collected for the first time in the 2003 census. However, the data was incomplete as only 27 per cent. of PCTs coded staff using the new school nursing codes.
The table shows the increase in school nurses since 2004.
Total qualified school nursing nurses of which qualified school nurses of which full-time Total qualified school nursing nurses of which qualified school nurses 2005 2,887 943 182 1,913 665 2004 2,409 856 151 1,619 607
There were 943 (665 full-time equivalent) nurses who held a school nursing qualification in 2005 an increase of 87 (10 per cent.) since 2004.