The following table shows the number of health visitors from 2001 to 2005. The number of qualified school nurses were counted for the first time in the 2004 work force census and are also shown in the table. The overall number of nurses working in primary and community care settings—some of whose roles overlap with health visitors—has increased by 37 per cent. since 1997.
England (headcount) 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Health visitors 13,053 12,774 12,984 13,303 12,818 Qualified school nurses — — — 2,409 2,887 of whom: Hold a pre registration school nurse qualification — — — 856 943 Source: The Information Centre for health and social care non-medical work force census.