Written question asked by Baroness Tonge (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 11 May 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 May 2000. It was answered by John Denham (Labour) on Thursday, 18 May 2000 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to introduce national schemes to promote the training and recruitment of prosthetic and orthotic technicians; what plans he has to restore apprenticeship schemes in the NHS for prosthetic and orthotic technicians.

Answer: Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to introduce national schemes to promote the training and recruitment of prosthetic and orthotic technicians; [122340] (2) what plans he has to restore apprenticeship schemes in the NHS for prosthetic and orthotic technicians. [122342] Mr. Denham: The training and recruitment of prosthetic and orthotic technicians are the responsibility of local National Health Service employers. The recently published "Review of Workforce Planning" acknowledges that there are a number of staff groups playing important roles in service delivery who currently sit outside mainstream workforce planning and funding arrangements. The review states that it is important that their training and development needs are properly identified and considered. A National Advisory Group has begun work to determine the current profile of the orthotist and prosthetist workforce and education arrangements. The analysis will include consideration of the number, training and role of orthotic and prosthetic technicians.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 350 c242W;350 c244W; 122340;122342
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Apprentices Disability aids NHS Recruitment Medical equipment Training Prosthetics Technicians
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk