§ Mr. Liddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to help recruit doctors into the Territorial Army. [138951]
§ Mr. CaplinThe recruitment of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals is currently the Territorial Army's (TA) highest recruitment priority and additional funding is being made available in support of this goal.
Steps being taken to aid recruitment include twice yearly visits by recruitment teams to selected NHS Trusts; attendance by the TA Medical Services at some 25 professional conferences/exhibitions; media advertising with a focused television campaign planned for transmission in early 2004. Work is also in place to ensure greater synergy between recruitment campaigns for the TA and Regular Army.
The recruitment of health care professionals into the TA Medical Services is supported by the Department of Health as part of the Improving Working Lives Initiative.