HC Deb 09 March 1999 vol 327 cc197-8W
Ms Keeble

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures have been taken by his Department to attract graduates into careers as NHS biomedical scientists in pathology. [73101]

Mr. Denham

The Department has published a career leaflet entitled 'A career in the NHS for graduates in biomedical science', which is made available to all university and local careers offices.

Ms Keeble

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of recruitment in the NHS for biomedical scientists in pathology. [73100]

Mr. Denham

Biomedical Scientists in pathology are recruited into the National Health Service in response to local need and accurate national statistics are not held. The National Advisory Group for Scientists and Technicians has been constituted to provide a national co-ordination mechanism for local work-force planning and education commissioning for the scientific and technical staff groups. It has met once with the relevant professional bodies, including that representing Biomedical Scientists, and has established a sub-group to develop data capture methods to obtain local work-force planning information.

Ms Keeble

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the starting salary for a graduate working in the NHS as a biomedical scientist in pathology. [73099]

Mr. Denham

'Biomedical Scientist' is another title for Medical Laboratory Scientific Officer.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Erith and Thamesmead (Mr. Austin), on 16 February 1999, Official Report, columns 727–28.