§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health ( 1 ) what plans he has to improve retention of radiographers in the NHS in London; and if he will make a statement; [60873]
(2) what estimate he has made of the impact on the NHS of resignations of radiographers in the Greater London region in the last year. [60872]
§ Mr. HuttonThe NHS plan set targets to increase the NHS workforce. This will include radiographers throughout the country and within London. We recognise that a well-motivated workforce, able to balance their work and domestic responsibilities, will provide a better service to patients.
The regional co-ordinator been seconded from the service since November 2000, to take forward the recruitment, retention and returner initiatives in the field of radiography and the other allied health professions (AHP).
In 1999 Ministers launched the Improving Working Lives Standard (IWL) designed to enable staff to balance their home and work responsibilities as part of this work. A combined AHP and healthcare scientist retention campaign is currently being developed and will be launched in the summer. In addition, the HR strategy for AHPs was accompanied by a booklet called "Building Careers". The booklet illustrates the varied careers available to staff within AHP and the vital contribution they make to patient and client care.
The Department does not collect information on the number of resignations of radiographers both in London and the rest of the country.