§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates he has made of the cost to the NHS of investigations of NHS staff who have been suspended from work in the last two years. [46825]
§ Mr. HuttonThe cost of investigating suspended national health service staff is a matter for national health service employers. The Department collects quarterly information in regard to the suspension of hospital medical and dental staff and overall costs incurred. At 31 December 2001, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 29 doctors and community dentists currently suspended for more than six months.