HL Deb 13 July 2000 vol 615 cc45-6WA
Lord Dholakia

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What difficulties have been encountered in the last 12 months in recruiting professionals to work in the field of children's mental health; and what steps have been taken to overcome them. [HL3191]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

Recruitment to the National Health Service is improving. There were more doctors, nurses and therapists in 1999 than in 1998. The provision of £16 million of targeted funding in 1999–2000 to improve "core" child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) is thought to have had a significant impact on the recruitment of professional staff in this field but national workforce statistics are not yet available. The funding last year was part of £90 million being provided over 3 years to improve staffing levels and the range and quality of CAMHS.

Lord Dholakia

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress has been made in the last 12 months in increasing the number of professionals working in the field of children's mental health. [HL3190]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

The national recruitment and retention strategy has resulted in more staff being recruited to the National Health Service. For example, the number of hospital medical staff in Child and Adolescent psychiatry increased by 3.7 per cent. between September 1998 and September 1999. The number of qualified nurses working in the NHS increased by over 5,500 between September 1998 and September 1999.