Tuesday, March 9, 1999 Published at 10:47 GMT
Praise for £5m nursing recruitment
The scheme targets former nurses who have children to look after
The Royal College of Nursing says Health Secretary Frank Dobson should be "congratulated" over moves to encourage former nurses to return to work.
The General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, Christine Hancock, said it was a small amount of money, but it would make a difference.
"Frank Dobson is the first person who has come along and said 'Yes, there is a real problem, we've got to tackle it ... we've got to put real money towards it'."
The government is also embarking on an advertising campaign to increase numbers.
It follows a survey showing that one out of five nurses not currently working plan to return to the profession and that three in five might be tempted back.
Most said the option of part-time and flexible working hours would be key factors in getting them back into hospitals.
"The NHS needs more nurses and this report shows that there are thousands of nurses who would like to come back, providing that employers are sensitive to their needs."
Mr Dobson said he would write to all "potential nurse returners" who have phoned a government recruitment hotline.
He said "everything possible will be done to support those nurses who wish to return and that NHS managers have been told to introduce family-friendly policies with flexible rotas to make it easier for them to look after their families as well as their jobs".