HC Deb 26 January 1996 vol 270 c415W
Ms Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for a national recruitment campaign for doctors and nurses. [10749]

Mr. Malone

There is a long-term information campaign to young people aged 12 to 18 years, those over 18 and their advisers, providing materials designed to encourage a flow of suitably qualified, high calibre and well-informed applicants for training as nurses, midwives, health visitors and professionals allied to medicine, and to retain them in the national health service when qualified.

Last year, we accepted the recommendation of the Medical Workforce Standing Advisory Committee to increase medical student intake to 500 to reach a target intake of 4,970 by the year 2,000. The overall number of both medical students and doctors has increased steadily and will continue to do so. Entry to the medical profession—medical students—is over-subscribed in terms of applications to medical schools.

It is for local employers to determine their human resources strategies and to take appropriate action to recruit and retain sufficient qualified staff to deliver those services which they are contracted to supply.