§ Geraldine SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when Morecambe Bay NHS Primary Care Trust will lift its temporary recruitment freeze on speech and language therapists. [68938]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 15 July 2002]: Morecambe Bay Primary Care Trust has not implemented a freeze on any posts, and this includes posts in the speech and language therapy service. Lancashire Education Authority recently provided additional funding of 0.4 whole time equivalent to provide speech and language therapy input to the paediatric services. The recruitment process is currently underway.
§ Geraldine SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve paediatric(a) occupational, (b) physiotherapy and (c) speech and language therapy services in Morecambe and Lunesdale. [68939]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 15 July 2002]: Children's and adolescent services are one of the priorities for the Morecambe Bay health community modernisation programme. As part of this process, the group will be reviewing the needs of children with disabilities and the therapy resources which are available to support them.