Written question asked by Bob Spink (Conservative) on Tuesday, 9 July 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 July 2002. It was answered by Lord Hutton of Furness (Labour) on Thursday, 18 July 2002 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what checks he makes on foreign nurses for HIV before they are employed in the United Kingdom.

Answer: Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what checks he makes on foreign nurses for HIV before they are employed in the United Kingdom. [69222] Mr. Hutton: Nurses recruited into the national health service from abroad are subject to the same pre- appointment checks as those recruited within the United Kingdom. NHS employers are required to satisfy themselves of the immunisation status of applicants and only when an applicant does not pose a risk of infection to patients from infectious diseases should employment be recommended. Being HIV positive is not a bar to NHS employment but does preclude certain invasive (exposure prone) procedures being performed such as surgery and midwifery.

Secondary information