§ Mr. ViggersTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what attitude surveys have been undertaken amongst 45W medical staff in the Defence Medical Services concerning the retention of a tri-service core hospital; and what were the results. [80574]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonA survey of the options for future secondary care provision was carried out in July 1998 among Defence Medical Services (DMS) personnel serving at Defence Secondary Care Agency units in the UK and the DMS Training Centre. The survey was conducted by BMRB International and their findings were published in a report entitled "Views of Military Secondary Care. Report on a survey conducted for the Surgeon General" dated September 1998, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. ViggersTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what initiatives he has taken to recruit and retain staff in the Defence Medical Services; and what have been the results. [80570]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonA tri-Service recruitment campaign for regular nurses, General Medical Practitioners and consultants has been conducted over the last two months. In response, we have received inquiries from nearly 400 people, although it is too early to say how many will ultimately join the Defence Medical Services (DMS). Work is continuing on a range of other measures to improve recruitment and retention, as indicated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence in his announcement on 14 December 1998,Official Report, columns 328–29, about the new strategy for the DMS. These measures include identifying the causes of overstretch and more effective ways of reducing it, harmonising different terms of service within the DMS and addressing concerns about the need to maintain military standards and ethos among DMS personnel working in MOD Hospital Units in NHS Hospitals.