§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for how many staff employed in the Scottish NHS in each of the last five years a degree in orthoptics was part of the requirement for their employment. [24563]
§ Mr. GalbraithThe information is not available in the form requested. However, the table shows the numbers of qualified orthoptists employed by the NHS in Scotland in each of the last 5 years. Employment as a qualified orthoptist requires that an individual be registered under the Professions Supplementary to Medicine Act 1960.
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Qualified orthoptists employed in the NHS in Scotland Headcount and Whole Time Equivalent (WTE): at 30 September 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Headcount Total 76 80 87 90 89 Head 10 12 13 15 15 Senior 66 67 74 75 74 Basic — 1 — — —
Qualified orthoptists employed in the NHS in Scotland Headcount and Whole Time Equivalent (WTE): at 30 September 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 WTE Total 58.8 63.2 67.2 67 68.2 Head 9.8 11.8 12.8 13.9 13.8 Senior 49 50.4 54.4 53.1 54.4 Basic — 1 — — —
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many students graduated with a degree in orthoptics from Scottish universities or colleges in each of the last five years. [24564]
§ Mr. WilsonThe numbers of students graduating in ophthalmics (which includes orthoptics and optometry) is provided in the table.
Number of full-time first degree ophthalmics graduates from Scottish higher education, 1992–96 Year Number of graduates 1992 28 1993 33 1994 42 1995 58 1996 52
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the recruitment benefits for Scottish hospitals of the Scottish-based degree course for the training of orthoptists. [24559]
§ Mr. GalbraithScottish Hospitals appreciate that professional education and training, including that of orthoptists, provided by Scottish universities is of the highest standard and so would wish to recruit graduates trained in Scotland. But it is for the Council for the Professions Supplementary to Medicine to ensure that orthoptists working in the United Kingdom are competent to practice whereever they train. Also, while it would seem probable that graduates from Scottish universities are more likely to seek initial employment within rather than outwith Scotland, many students who have studied in Scottish universities but who are not domiciled in Scotland return home on graduation.
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the British Orthoptic Society concerning the future of the Scottish-based degree course for training orthoptists. [24560]
§ Mr. GalbraithI have been in correspondence with the British Orthoptic Society on this matter and Miss Anne Jarvie, the Chief Nursing Officer, is arranging to meet with the Society in the next few weeks.
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure the continuation of degree training for orthoptists in Scotland. [24558]
§ Mr. GalbraithThe Scottish Office is currently engaged in assessing the numbers of orthoptists which Scotland requires.
Once I have ascertained this, I will take steps to ensure sufficient orthoptists undertake degrees in orthoptics to meet the needs of the NHS in Scotland.
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§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has made to (i) Caledonian University and (ii) the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine regarding the future of the orthoptic degree course at Caledonian University; and if he will make a statement. [24561]
§ Mr. GalbraithGlasgow Caledonian University and the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine (CPSM) have kept Scottish office officials fully appraised of the situation regarding the orthoptic degree course at Glasgow Caledonian University.
I have called for a review of the education and training of orthoptists in Scotland, the first stage of which is to seek information from Trusts on the current need for orthoptists and the need over the next five years. This information has now been gathered. Further stages in the review process will be decided after these data have been analysed.
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Scottish students received funding for an orthoptic degree course (i) at Caledonian, (ii) at Liverpool, (iii) at Sheffield universities and (iv) outside the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available. [24562]
§ Mr. WilsonThe number of Scottish students, funded by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland, on the BSc Orthoptics course, in the current academic session (1997–98) is contained in the table:
University Number Glasgow Caledonian 49 Liverpool 1 Sheffield nil Outwith the UK nil