§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to address staff turnover within the NHS Information Authority. [15397]
§ Ms BlearsThe National Health Service Information Authority had a turnover during the last 12 months of 11.36 per cent. This is compared with a 23 per cent. increase in its staff over the same period. Therefore the overall staffing position was growth.
Over the past two years the authority has rationalised its offices from 23 to 11. This has invariably caused a need to relocate some staff from one site to another. However, very few staff with key technical skills left the authority because of this. The vast majority supported all staff through this process with appropriate actions—flexible working; home relocation arrangements; teleworking and transport services.
Significant effort has also been put into the development of a full induction process for new staff joining the authority to ensure, wherever they are located, that they gain an understanding of the purpose, nature and culture of the authority as quickly as possible.