Ex-nurses asked to register to help cope with potential swine flu surge

Published on Wednesday 16 September 2009 14:51

THOUSANDS of nurses and midwives whose registration has lapsed are being contacted to help cope with any surge in the swine flu pandemic, it was announced today.

Letters will be sent to about 10,000 people across Scotland who were registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) – essential to work in the UK.

To be eligible for re-admission, the nurse or midwife must have worked over the past five years for a minimum of 750 hours.

Letters are going to 90,000 people across the UK. In Scotland this includes 7,695 nurses, 148 midwives and 1,686 people with both qualifications.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "I am pleased the NMC is taking this action in preparation for any worsening of the pandemic.

"The Scottish Government revised and reissued central guidance for NHS Scotland boards on the workforce implications of pandemic flu in August this year.

"It provides NHS boards with guidance on a range of related issues such as the potential deployment of staff from other sources, including retired and former staff.

"NHS boards have been working in line with that guidance and good progress is being made in developing plans."

NMC chief executive and registrar Kathy George said they are "writing to over 90,000 nurses and midwives whose registration has lapsed within the last four years and encouraging them to consider applying for re-admission to the register".

Labour health spokesman Dr Richard Simpson MSP said: "It is absolutely vital that we use the time available now to prepare for a potential second wave of flu cases.

"In a worst-case scenario, GPs could be dealing with over 5,000 extra cases per week.

"So, I am pleased that the Nursing and Midwifery Council is writing to nurses and midwives whose registration has recently lapsed."