§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will seek to adjust the Whitley pay scales to increase the number of orthotists employed in the National Health Service;
(2) if he will make a statement about the reasons for the shortage of qualified orthotists at the Royal National orthopaedic hospital.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergI know of no evidence that suggests that services to patients generally, which have traditionally been provided by a combination of relatively few directly employed staff and a preponderance of staff employed by independent contractors, would be improved 205W by the recruitment of more orthotists to the NHS. However, I am asking the Department and the Whitley council concerned to consider problems of recruitment and retention in NHS centres where special work is undertaken, such as the Royal National orthopaedic hospital.