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Dept of Health

Answer

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate his Department has made of the cost of employing NHS accredited health trainers; [199472] (2) what estimate he has made of the number of NHS health trainers, as defined in the White Paper, Choosing Health, Cm 6374, which will be needed to provide universal access for those entitled to NHS care for this service; and what criteria NHS health trainers will be required to meet to obtain accreditation; [199473] (3) what consultation his Department has had with (a) primary care and (b) general practice bodies on the establishment of NHS health trainers; and if he will make a statement. [199476] Miss Melanie Johnson: The Choosing Health? consultation prompted many recommendations from specialist task groups and responses from organisations and the wider public. Representatives from primary care were involved in the primary care task group and responses to the Choosing Health? consultation document were received from across the national health service. A key theme in the recommendations and replies was the need to promote health and healthy lifestyles and for the NHS to take a lead. As a response to those views, the White Paper, Choosing Health?, announced the establishment of NHS health trainers. We will be working with the Faculty of Public Health and other appropriate professional bodies as the detailed plans for NHS health trainers are developed. From 2006, NHS trainers will be providing support to people in disadvantaged areas and progressively from 2007 across the country. This will involve a mix of full and part-time accredited NHS trainers and others, for example, trainers working in the voluntary sector, some of whom could carry out this role as part of their main job. There is no firm figure for the total number of accredited trainers as there will be a number of different models for delivering this service. During 2005-06, we will be piloting local models. The method of accreditation will be based on completion of formal training with built-in standards and quality assurance. The planning assumption, based on existing evidence and best practice, is that they will be broadly similar in salary and related employer costs to health care assistants and other NHS staff with comparable skills.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

428 c236-7W; 199472;199473;199476

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Costs NHS Staff Exercise Health trainers

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk