§ Mr. Stanbrookasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether she will institute an inquiry into the credentials of agencies supplying medical staff for employment in National Health Service hospitals;
(2) what steps are taken to check the qualifications of medical staff recruited from agencies for employment in National Health Service hospitals.
§ Dr. OwenIt is for employing authorities to satisfy themselves that doctors, including those supplied by employment agencies, are properly qualified for the176W posts to which they are appointed. Agencies supplying medical staff are subject to the same controls as other employment agencies, and I have no evidence that an inquiry is necessary at present.