NHS Direct

HC Deb 27 January 2000 vol 343 cc346-7W

Mr. Robathan

To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what means and from what sources nurses have been recruited for NHS Direct. [106785]

Ms Stuart

Nurses wanting to apply to NHS Direct find that this is no different from applying for any job elsewhere in the National Health Service. Many of the jobs are advertised in theNursing Times and Nursing Standard as well as local papers, job centres, NHS trust newsletters and bulletin boards. NHS Direct has deliberately recruited nurses from a wide range of different backgrounds. Some will be from a hospital background but others will be from primary care or will have been working outside the NHS. NHS Direct has also provided opportunities for disabled and work-injured nurses. Many staff who work for NHS Direct do so on a part time basis allowing them to combine working for NHS Direct with other clinical duties.