§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what domestic publications the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency will use to advertise those contracts relating to NHS professionals. [24423]
§ Mr. HuttonThe National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency will advertise the contracts for NHS professionals in domestic publications relevant to the particular staff sector. For instance contracts for nursing staff will be advertised in theNursing Times and contracts for doctors in the British Medical Journal.
§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether NHS trusts will be required to use NHS professionals to meet their temporary staffing needs. [24422]
§ Mr. HuttonThere is an expectation that national health service professionals will be used as the provider of choice within the NHS, supported by tight contracts with our providers in the private sector.
§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are being taken to inform private nursing agencies about the tendering processes attached to NHS professionals. [24424]
§ Mr. HuttonThe tenders for the contracts for national health service professionals being carried out by the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency will be advertised in relevant domestic journals and in theOfficial Journal of the European Communities.
The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency is in consultation with the following trade associations that represent private nursing agencies: the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, the Federation of Independent Nursing Agencies, and the Nursing Agency Association.
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§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding NHS professionals will receive in financial years(a) 2001 –02, (b) 2002 –03 and (c) 2003 –04. [24421]
§ Mr. HuttonNational health service professionals received £4 million to support start up, £3 million in the financial year in 2001 –02, and £3 million has been identified in 2002 –03 to support NHS trusts through the implementation process. The service will be self-sustaining in the long-term and recoup costs directly from the NHS organisations using NHS professionals on a non-profit making basis.
§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency will use theOfficial Journal of the European Community to advertise the regional contracts it is negotiating on behalf of NHS professionals. [24420]
§ Mr. HuttonYes.
§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when the tendering process inviting private nursing agencies to agree their terms and conditions of supply to NHS professionals will be launched in the(a) Trent, (b) south east, (c) south west, (d) eastern, (e) north west and (f) northern and Yorkshire regions; and what nursing services will be covered. [24426]
§ Mr. HuttonThe timetable for tendering for agency staff has not yet been finalised. It is expected that the projects for nursing staff in the south west, the south east, and the north west of England will be launched in early January and the end of February this year. Projects for the remaining regions will begin at a later date that is yet to be decided.
The contracts will cover all grades of nurses, midwives and operating department practitioners.