§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost per year in the NHS was of employing a locum for(a) heart disease care and (b) medical emergencies in the last year for which figures are available. [137149]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 11 November 2003]This information is not held centrally.
§ Mr. Geoffrey RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether NHS trusts are able to pay unlimited amounts for replacement locums for suspended consultants. [137374]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 12 November 2003]National Health Service bodies are encouraged to use only commercial agencies listed in the National Medical Locum Agency Framework Agreement for the recruitment of locums. This is a list approved by the Department, with agreed quality standards and costs to help obtain value for money. Information on the amounts paid by trusts and the reasons for locums being employed are not held centrally.