HC Deb 02 December 2002 vol 395 c617W
Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health with which developing countries the NHS has an agreement to recruit nurses(a) directly and (b) through commercial agencies. [84890]

Mr. Hutton

The Government have agreements to recruit nurses from the Philippines, India and Indonesia. University hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire national health service trust have an agreement to run a pilot to recruit nurses from China.

In addition, NHS employers are able to establish exchange programmes for nurses from developing countries, in line with the guidance on nursing recruitment.

The NHS does not work with commercial agencies to recruit directly from developing countries.