§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates he has made of the number of whole time equivalent nurses who will be performing non-clinical duties with(a) the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, (b) the Commission for Health Improvement and (c) the NHS Modernisation Agency. [24598]
§ Mr. HuttonThe National Institute for Clinical Excellence, the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) and the National Health Service Modernisation Agency are responsible for improvements in quality across the NHS. Nurses are employed within these agencies to provide the frontline perspective and to influence development.
Numbers are subject to change but there are currently two nurses employed in the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, 149 nurses employed in CHI and 51 in the Modernisation Agency.
1003W
§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many specialist TB nurses were employed(a) in the NHS and (b) in each health authority in London by the NHS in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2001. [24448]
§ Mr. HuttonThe information requested is not collected centrally.
§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure school nurses are paid at F grade. [24592]
§ Mr. HuttonNurses employed in the national health service under national terms and conditions are graded according to the clinical grading definitions agreed between the management and staff sides of the Nursing and Midwifery Negotiating Council in 1988.
Decisions concerning grading of individual posts including those of school nurses are the responsibility of local managers who, with advice from professional colleagues are in the best position to consider the work to be done and the skills needed to do it. The clinical grading definitions reflect the different levels of responsibility and clinical expertise required in different posts. It is for local employers using the agreed definitions and in the light of particular job content to grade posts according to responsibilities.
In the advance letter promulgating the pay award for 2001–02 employers were reminded of their obligations to ensure all jobs are graded in accordance with the existing grading guidance
§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if school nurses are defined by his Department as autonomous practitioners. [24593]
§ Mr. HuttonProfessional standards are a matter for the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting.