To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) nurses, (b) midwives and (c) health visitors returned to work in the National Health Service in each year since 2004. (269335)

The number of midwives and health visitors that have returned to work in the national health service is not collected centrally. However, between February 1999 and March 2004, over 18,500 former nurses and midwives had returned to work in the NHS as a result of the return to practice initiative.

From 1 April 2004, responsibility for the provision and funding of return to practice programmes was devolved to local NHS organisations.