§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many Spanish nurses have worked in the NHS in each of the last three years in(a) the UK, (b) Lancashire and (c) the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust; [77606]
(2) how many Spanish nurses are working in the NHS in (a) the UK, (b) Lancashire and (c) the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust. [77605]
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§ Mr. HuttonOver the last two years, the Department has been working closely with the Ministrio de Sanidad y Consumo—the Spanish Ministry of Health—to give Spanish nurses the opportunity to come and work in England.
Between January 2001 and October 2002, 508 Spanish nurses have taken up positions as a result of this government to government initiative. We do not routinely collect information about overall numbers of international recruits into the National Health Service, including those from Spain
NHS Organisation 1997(£m) 2002–2003 (£m) North Yorkshire Health Authority 5.9 N/A North & East Yorkshire & Northern Lincolnshire Health Authority N/A 4.0 Harrogate Health Care NHS Trust 3.164 3.558 Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust 3.441 3.816 York Health Services NHS Trust 5.273 5.0 Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust N/A 1.890 Craven, Harrogate and Rural District Primary Care Trust N/A 1.980 Selby and York Primary Care Trust N/A 4.320 Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Primary Care Trust N/A 2.225 Total 17.778 26.789 Sources:
North & East Yorkshire & Northern Lincolnshire Heath Authority.
The 2002–2003 costs relate to anticipated expenditure at 31 March.
Any comparisons between 1997 and 2002 would be influenced by inflation and the transfer of Trust management costs into PCTs where services have transferred, e.g. community and mental health services.
In addition, following the changes resulting from shifting the balance of power, the North & East Yorkshire & Northern Lincolnshire Health Authority (HA) covers a much wider geographic area than the former North Yorkshire HA. Many of its functions have been devolved from the former regional office of the Department.