§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 4 December 2002,Official Report, column 909, on the overseas nurse advice line, how many whole-time equivalent staff are employed by the advice line; and what the budget for the advice line is for each of the next three years. [87239]
§ Mr. HuttonThe national health service overseas nurses advice line is operated in conjunction with NHS careers. There is a pool of NHS careers staff employed as call operators, who handle calls in addition to a team with health careers expertise advising on supervised practice and NHS careers.
Decisions on the future financing of the advice line have not yet been made.
794W
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 4 December 2002,Official Report, column 909W, on the Overseas Nurse Advice Line, how many calls were received on 0845850588 in each month since the line was set up. [87240]
§ Mr. HuttonOver the three months that the national health service Overseas Nurses Advice Line has been operating it has received a total of 63 calls.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 4 December,Official Report, column 909W, on the Overseas Nurse Advice Line, how he plans to inform (a) NHS organisations, (b) overseas governments, (c) overseas nurses and (d) other interested parties, of the Overseas Nurse Advice Line. [87241]
§ Mr. HuttonNational health service organisations, overseas governments and overseas nurses have been informed of the NHS Overseas Nurses Advice Line through various means.
Quarterly briefing meetings held by the chief nursing officer for the strategic health authorities has brought the advice line to the attention of nursing directors and primary care trust lead nurses throughout the NHS. In addition, the advice line was featured in the chief nursing officer's bulletin in October.
Overseas governments with an interest in the recruitment of nurses have been informed about the NHS overseas nurses advice line through the issue of a card advertising the advice line.
Cards advertising the advice line have been produced and distributed by organisations including the Royal College of Nursing and Unison, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and Independent Healthcare Association. The Nursing and Midwifery Council will be distributing cards to overseas representatives in the New Year.