§ Adam PriceTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to recruit more biomedical scientists to the NHS, and increase staff retention. [6396]
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§ Mr. HuttonThe National Advisory Group for Scientists and Technicians has been charged with developing plans to improve workforce planning, education, training and career development among this group of staff, including biomedical scientists. The Department is also developing a specific strategy for improving recruitment, retention and return, liaising closely with employers, professional bodies and trade unions to raise the profile of the work of scientists.
The National Health Service careers service, http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk, has been extended to include scientists and technicians. A new generic scientists and technicians careers leaflet has also been prepared.
To address particular recruitment and retention problems in pathology laboratories pay increases of between 7.3 per cent. and 16.7 per cent. have been agreed from April 2001 for over 6,000 trainee Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers (MLSOs), MLSO 1 s and MLSO2s.