§ Sandra GidleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on staffing shortages at the NHS Direct walk-in centre in Shirley, Southampton; [67603]
(2) what the cost was of the flights of the NHS Direct nurses who travelled from Manchester to Southampton; and what their accommodation costs were. [67605]
§ Ms BlearsShirley national health service walk-in centre is one of 42 such NHS centres which have been established in most of the major conurbations as part of a national programme to pilot nurse-led walk-in services. Each centre is managed by a project manager or lead nurse who is accountable to the local primary care trust. The overall pilot programme is co-ordinated by a national team.
On the weekend of Saturday 29 June and Sunday 30 June 2002, due to staff illnesses, and the lack of local suitably trained nurses, the NHS walk-in centre found that it would have had to close or run a reduced service unless cover could be found by temporarily redeploying nurses from other centres. Among those who provided this cover were two nurses from Manchester who, exceptionally, travelled by air from Manchester to Southampton. Their flight and accommodation costs totalled £669.
§ Sandra GidleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what measures he is taking to address staff shortages in NHS Direct walk-in centres; [67606]
(2) what the vacancy levels are at each NHS Direct walk-in centre. [67604]
§ Mr. HuttonRecruitment of National Health Service walk-in centre nurses is a local matter for primary care trusts and as such data on vacancies are not held centrally.
The NHS Plan sets out our commitment to implementing a range of measures to increase nurse recruitment and retention. As a new service which is expanding the role of nurses, NHS walk-in centres are contributing to this by offering an attractive option for nurses to expand and develop their skills and experience.