§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many regional health authorities have appointed general managers; how many of the appointees are new to the National Health Service; and what salaries and conditions of service have been fixed for them;
(2) how many district health authorities have appointed general managers; what percentage of appointees are new to the National Health Service; what arrangements exist for determining the salaries and conditions of service of appointees; and if these arrangements will involve Whitley council machinery.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeFollowing is the position in England at 4 January:
Region District Number of authorities 14 192 Number of appointments authorised 13 68 Number of appointees new to the NHS None 6 The interim arrangements for determining remuneration were set out in paragraph 12 of Annex C of our Department's circular HC(84)13, a copy of which was placed in the Library. We have not yet reached any conclusion on long-term arrangements for determining the pay of general managers.
Conditions of service are those determined for National Health Service staff in the discipline from which the general manager is recruited or, in the case of appointees new to the National Health Service, those applicable to administrative and clerical staff. In all cases protection of general manager remuneration in the event of non-renewal of the appointment at the end of the period of tenure is excluded.
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§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether staff expected to undertake additional duties and responsibilities consequent upon the appointment of a general manager will be regraded.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his Department is overseeing the changes to management structures consequent upon the appointment of general managers at district and regional level.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeYes.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps will be taken by the regions to discuss with staffs the effects of the appointment of general managers.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI would expect that all health authorities will wish to keep their staff fully informed on the effects of management changes but the method of communication chosen is a matter for each authority.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the appointment of general managers by health authorities entails the definition of job descriptions of chief officers.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeJob descriptions are matters for local health authorities. The appointment of a general manager is bound to cause the existing job description of a chief officer to be amended in some respects.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether health authorities consult the relevant officers before appointing general managers.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.