WE have heard much in recent weeks about the shortage of nurses in the NHS. May I suggest the reasons why?

1. The implementation of the Salmon Report in the early 1970s. Matrons were made redundant and experienced ward sisters and charge nurses were encouraged to move into management. This led to "too many chiefs and not enough Indians."

2. The grading system introduced in the 1980s divided the profession, leaving half feeling undervalued and demoralised. Many left nursing as a result.

3. Scrapping of Enrolled Nurse training. ENs were 'hands on' nurses who did two years' practical training. They were a great asset and valued members of the nursing team. Now they are no more.

4. Project 2000 took trainee nurses off the wards, gave them student status and trained them to degree level. Not only did we lose student nurses from the nursing team, but older people who would, at one time, have come into nursing were now discouraged.

5. Pay - as always a problem, especially when compared with other professions.

It would appear obvious with all these facts that in the end we are going to be left with a shortage of staff.

Governments and nursing bodies have been very short-sighted over the years and we are now feeling the results.

Let's get back to basics and put nurses where they belong - back on the wards.

MAUREEN NOONAN, Glenmore Close, Baxenden.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.