§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what staff shortages his Department has identified across all grades in the NHS; and what steps are being taken to address them. [6102]
§ Mr. MaloneIt is for local employers to determine what, if any, non-medical staff shortages exist. It is their responsibility to take appropriate action to retain and recruit existing qualified staff and ensure that adequate provision has been made to train the number of newly qualified staff they require.
National health service trusts now have greater freedoms than ever before to develop local pay and working arrangements to underpin their retention and recruitment strategies.
In the case of medical staff, the NHS executive and the Welsh Office receive advice from the specialist work force advisory group about the number of trainees needed 808W to ensure an adequate supply of properly trained doctors and dentists in each specialty, although it is not always possible to recruit to training posts that are available. The specialist work force advisory group has given priority to considering specialties where there are identified shortages.