Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many full-time equivalent MS specialist nurses are employed by the NHS in England; and steps he plans to take to increase their number.

The Department does not hold information on the number of full time equivalent multiple Sclerosis (MS) nurses employed in the National Health Service in England.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) sets the standards for nurse education. There is no NMC requirement for specific post-graduate education for nurses working with those with MS; however, the education and practice learning that prepares nurses to join the register covers learning outcomes to support good care.

Local employers will plan the specialist nurse workforce they require to meet population needs. The NHS funds several post registration education programmes that supports the development of the knowledge and skills required in practice. Each nurse working in the NHS also has access to a continuing professional development budget of £1,000 over three years to enable them to develop their knowledge and skills.