§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what instructions he has issued to regional health authorities regarding the re-employment of qualified nurses who have elected to take early retirement and received their pension.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeAs I explained to the hon. Member in my reply to him on 4 April, at columns595–96, the premature retirement scheme covers all NHS staff.
119WWe have now completed the review of re-employment of such staff announced in my right hon. Friend's reply of 14 December to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) at columns 523–24. Of the 135 cases recorded as re-employed at 31 October last, and 12 which have come to light since, about half have ceased employment or will do so in the near future. Of the remainder, we have asked for further inquiries to be made in 17 cases, we have authorised 27 individuals to continue until they have completed the tasks for which they were recruited or until successor arrangements can be made, and we have instructed authorities to terminate the contracts of the remaining 33 staff at the earliest possible date.
In total, 42 nurses were recorded as re-employed. We have allowed 17 to continue, almost all of them former senior nurse managers doing some part-time clinical nursing at staff nurse or sister level in shortage specialties.
For the future, any cases of possible re-employment will require ministerial approval—which will be given sparingly.