Questions on practice nurses were introduced in 2000. Overall, one in twenty people (5%) reported consulting a practice nurse during the two weeks before interview, which remains unchanged since 2000. Older people were more likely to have visited a practice nurse than younger people; 12% of those aged 65 to 74 and of those aged 75 and over visited a practice nurse compared with 2-6% of younger people. The proportion of respondents aged 75 and over who had consulted a practice nurse increased from 9% in 2000 to 12% in 2001.

Overall, females were more likely than males to report consulting a practice nurse during the fortnight before interview. These differences were greatest among 16 to 44 year olds where 2% of men visited a practice nurse compared with 5% of women. This may be partly due to women visiting practice nurses for reasons associated with family planning and pregnancy.

• On average there were 2 consultations with a practice nurse per person, per year. This figure doubled for those for those aged 65 and over.