§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he plans to take to ensure that an adequate number of free placements are available within the national health service for those students in training for professions supplementary to medicine who require such placements for clinical practice during their courses. [19216]
§ Mr. HoramResponsibility for negotiating clinical placements rests with education providers. National health service organisations were reminded of their obligation to assist education providers to secure sufficient placements in guidance issued in August 1995. Where charging for placements currently exists, it is being phased out.
§ Mr. FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which bodies within the national health service will have responsibility after 1 April for fulfilling contract obligations entered into by regional health authorities with educational institutions providing training courses for professions supplementary to medicine; [19212]
(2) which bodies within the national health service will have responsibility after 1 April for providing bursaries for students on courses of training for professions supplementary to medicine. [19213]
§ Mr. HoramFrom 1 April 1996 regional offices of the Department of Health will have responsibility for the contracts with education institutions and for the provision of bursaries for students for the professions allied to medicine.