Written question asked by Lord Lansley (Conservative) on Wednesday, 16 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 April 2005. It was answered by Lord Hutton of Furness (Labour) on Thursday, 7 April 2005 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the definitions of NHS occupational codes found under the NHS workforce statistics for (a) all non-clinical jobs, (b) all clinical jobs, (c) managers and (d) senior managers are the same in 2003-04 as in each year since 1997-98.

Answer: Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the definitions of NHS occupational codes found under the NHS work force statistics for (a) all non-clinical jobs, (b) all clinical jobs, (c) managers and (d) senior managers are the same in 2003-04 as in each year since 1997-98. [223044] Mr. Hutton: Since 1997, the national health service has undergone a radical reorganisation aimed at ensuring services are managed closer to patients, in particular through Shifting the Balance of Power and the creation of primary care trusts. In addition, the NHS has introduced a range of new clinical and non-clinical roles aimed at better meeting patients needs and the skills of staff. These include, for example, nurse consultants, and will in future include community matrons. The occupation codes used in NHS work force statistics have been amended to reflect these changes. All such changes are includes in the occupation codes manuals and Data Set Change Notices, which are available at: www.nhsia.nhs.uk/dscn/pages/default.asp.

Secondary information