§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to deal with the nationwide shortage of 250 occupational therapists identified in the recent Association of Directors of Social Services national work force survey, a copy of which has been sent to him.
§ Mr. MellorWe have taken a number of measures to overcome the shortage of occupational therapists which affects local authorities and the NHS. We are on course to increase the annual intake of occupational therapy students for three-year-diploma courses by at least 100 by 1990–91. The Department is also assisting in funding shortened two-year courses for graduates in related disciplines to qualify as occupational therapists. We have also commissioned a review of the manpower, skill mix and structures within local authority and NHS occupational therapy departments, and a report is expected in August.
We are in communication with local authority representatives to encourage local authorities to make a greater contribution to the cost of training occupational therapists. We are also aware that a number of local authorities are pursuing their own local strategies to overcome staff shortages.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state the number of occupational therapists employed by London local authorities in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Mellor[holding answer 16 June 1989]: The numbers of qualified occupational therapists employed by local authorities in London for 1985–87 (the last three years for which information is available) expressed as whole-time equivalents is given in the table. These figures reflect an increase of 24 per cent. in whole-time equivalent staff employed.
Qualified occupational therapists employed by local authority social services departments in London, 1985–87 As at 30 September Whole-time equivalents 1985 256.5 1986 272.1 1987 317.6 42W
Dairy Environmental Health Depart men! First DH contact with Environmental Health Department First visit to dairy (with details of prior contact where appropriate) Number of EHOs in post EHO establishment Yieldingtree Packers Wyre Forest 13 June, morning via Bromsgrove 14 June, 9 am 6 7 Grange Farm South Buckinghamshire 12 June, evening 13 June, 9.40 am 4 6 Battledene Farm Cotswold 12 June, evening 14 June, 5.00 pm (telephone 12 June, 7.30 pm) 8 8 Lord Crathorne Hambleton 12 June, evening 13 June, 10 am (telephone 12 June, 7 pm) 10 10 Stock Meadows Staffordshire Moorlands 12 June, evening 13 June, 10.30 am 9 9 Ann Forshaws Dibble Valley 11 June, evening 12 June, 11.30 am (telephone 11 June, evening) 8 8 Madresfield Dairy Malvern Hills 13 June, morning 13 June, 11 am 11 11 Bodfan Foods Chester 13 June, evening 13 June, 9 am1 16 16 1 A further visit was made 14 June, 9 am, following the Department's telephone call. Note: Figures for 1986 and 1987 are provisional and subject to revision.