Guest guest Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 HI Diane Have been quiet the last few weeks as I have had my head down completing something. I am not sure how much detail you have looked at national workforce figures in but from some work I have been doing for an SHA - it is clear there are many inaccuracies in the figures SHA collect especially around health visiting as the national requirements do not differentiate between bands and types of staff working in health visintg. Not such a problem in school nursing as they asked for qualified and unqualified and bands but again this does lead to inaccuracies as not all band 6 school nurses are qualified. ly it is mess which the national workforce planners are supposed to be sorting!! Hope you are well Regards Margaret New workforce statistics [1 Attachment] The DH issued their annual census of NHS workforce on Thursday, see attached or www.ic.nhs.uk It shows a continuing decline in the number of health visitors, standing at 8517 whole time equivalents in England in September 2009, which is a fall of a further 247 whole time equivalent posts. The headcount has gone down from 11,190 to 10,390 although for the first time this figure excludes bank workers which accounts for the large drop (there are 10,859 with those included). The now-familiar worrying trends continue including the continuing ageing of the workforce, which now consists of 22% over the age of 55 years, so able to retire at any time; of those, 8% are over 60 years old. There is another worrying figure, which is that 304 of the 'leavers' were in the age range of 35-45 years, showing a problem with retention. The number of 55-60 year olds has remained stable, instead of rising as would have been expected, suggesting that people are retiring as soon as they can. Those stalwarts who opt to stay re staying longer, with an amazing 169 health visitors over the age of 65 years; almost double the number since 2006, when it was 89! School nursing numbers continue to rise from miniscule to minute! There were 1215 (WTE) qualified school nurses in September 2009, as compared to 1067 a year earlier. There are also more first level nurses (RN) working in school nursing team, 1681, up from 1239, so their skillmix is getting even more dilute. I thought that was not supposed to happen, now there is a proper qualification for them, but guess there may be something of a panic in relation to the target of getting one school nurse per secondary school and its feeders; isn't that target supposed be met by 2010? It is pleasing that the numbers are at least continuing to go up, but the major problem, as always in school nursing, is just that the numbers are so low that even adding another 150 is a drop in the ocean. best wishes Cowley sarahcowley183btinternet http://myprofile.cos.com/S124021COn The DH issued their annual census of NHS workforce on Thursday, see attached or www.ic.nhs.ukIt shows a continuing decline in the number of health visitors, standing at 8517 whole time equivalents in England in September 2009, which is a fall of a further 247 whole time equivalent posts. The headcount has gone down from 11,190 to 10,390 although for the first time this figure excludes bank workers which accounts for the large drop (there are 10,859 with those included). The now-familiar worrying trends continue including the continuing ageing of the workforce, which now consists of 22% over the age of 55 years, so able to retire at any time; of those, 8% are over 60 years old. There is another worrying figure, which is that 304 of the 'leavers' were in the age range of 35-45 years, showing a problem with retention. The number of 55-60 year olds has remained stable, instead of rising as would have been expected, suggesting that people are retiring as soon as they can. Those stalwarts who opt to stay re staying longer, with an amazing 169 health visitors over the age of 65 years; almost double the number since 2006, when it was 89!School nursing numbers continue to rise from miniscule to minute! There were 1215 (WTE) qualified school nurses in September 2009, as compared to 1067 a year earlier. There are also more first level nurses (RN) working in school nursing team, 1681, up from 1239, so their skillmix is getting even more dilute. I thought that was not supposed to happen, now there is a proper qualification for them, but guess there may be something of a panic in relation to the target of getting one school nurse per secondary school and its feeders; isn't that target supposed be met by 2010? It is pleasing that the numbers are at least continuing to go up, but the major problem, as always in school nursing, is just that the numbers are so low that even adding another 150 is a drop in the ocean.best wishes Cowleysarahcowley183btinternethttp://myprofile.cos.com/S124021COn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2010 Report Share Posted April 7, 2010 Hi DianeI have deleted both your messages from the website, so although they will have been circulated to all members, there will be no record of them. I must say, I think it is very encouraging that EoE SHA is taking a positive interest in the health of children, and realise that the size of the health visiting/school health workforce is key to this. Let's hope other SHAs follow them.Perhaps if anyone wishes to comment, they will respect Diane's wishes, and do as I just did, and remove the details of the message to avoid recirculation? I am not sure what will happen in the daily digest, but will watch it. best wishesOn 7 Apr 2010, at 08:58, Diane DeBell wrote:, Oh my heavens. Please delete my email below to Senate. It should have gone to Margaret's private email address........................ Can you please remove it, , from the Senate circulation list? V sorry about that, Diane Cowleysarahcowley183@...http://myprofile.cos.com/S124021COn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2010 Report Share Posted April 7, 2010 Thank you very much, . I've just written to your bt address but have 2 addresses for you. Let me know if it doesn't reach you. All good wishes, Diane Re: New workforce statistics Hi Diane I have deleted both your messages from the website, so although they will have been circulated to all members, there will be no record of them. I must say, I think it is very encouraging that EoE SHA is taking a positive interest in the health of children, and realise that the size of the health visiting/school health workforce is key to this. Let's hope other SHAs follow them. Perhaps if anyone wishes to comment, they will respect Diane's wishes, and do as I just did, and remove the details of the message to avoid recirculation? I am not sure what will happen in the daily digest, but will watch it. best wishes On 7 Apr 2010, at 08:58, Diane DeBell wrote: , Oh my heavens. Please delete my email below to Senate. It should have gone to Margaret's private email address........................ Can you please remove it, , from the Senate circulation list? V sorry about that, Diane Cowley sarahcowley183btinternet http://myprofile.cos.com/S124021COn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2011 Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 Dear allThe NHS Information Centre released a new lot of workforce data on Christmas Eve. These are not yet confirmed, they are 'experimental data,' using a new monthly method to collate, which means the figures are available more quickly, but there is no detail about age etc, and it has to be regarded with caution. However, for September 2010, the figures show- another year-on-year fall (268 wte - 3.4%, which is larger than last year's drop) for health visitors, there are now 8017 whole time equivalent- a fall of 56 wte (4.8%) school nurses, which reverses the rising trend for the last five years, there are now 1096 (qualified) whole time equivalent I hope that does not mean that school nursing is to be targeted where they have 'got the message' that health visitor numbers need to be increased. Data attached.best wishes Cowleysarahcowley183@...http://myprofile.cos.com/S124021COn 1 of 1 File(s) FINAL Tables National.xls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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