§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment has been made of staff shortages of(a) doctors, (b) nurses, and (c) scientific personnel in the Portsmouth and South East Hampshire health authority; and if he will make a statement. [30276]
§ Ms BlearsWe are aware of the difficulties that have been faced by trusts in the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire area in recruiting doctors, nurses and scientific personnel. A task force has been established locally, to look at staffing needs across the health authority. Details of local initiatives to recruit staff will be available from the chairmen of the health authority and national health service trusts.
Information collected centrally on staff vacancies is published on the Department's website.