Chamber and committees

I understand from NHS Bordersthat the waiting time for an audiology appointment quoted to Dr Symms was incorrect.They have now written to Dr Symms to advise that the anticipated wait is 48 weeks.

The board is currently developingan audiology modernisation plan and finalising its bid for funding from the AudiologyModernisation Funds which were announced earlier this year. It is also in the processof reallocating some work to increase the time available for trained audiologiststo undertake hearing aid assessments and expects these actions to lead to reductionsin waiting times early in the New Year.

Audiology services are in thespecialty of ear, nose and throat, hearing and other tests will normally be conductedat a first out-patient appointment at a consultant-led clinic in this specialty,following referral by a general medical practitioner.

Competition for student placesremains buoyant but, as with any higher education course, not all applicants meetthe necessary requirements. The nature of nursing means that applicants must beassessed on the basis of their health and fitness in addition to academic requirements.Selecting the right students is one way of addressing attrition from these courses.HEIs have overall responsibility for the selection process.

In 2003-04 the student intakewill increase by an additional 525 students, through traditional and other routes,in accordance with the student nurse intake planning recommendations.

The Scottish Executive is currentlyestablishing a Mental Health Workforce Group to address the workforce implicationsof the major changes anticipated in mental health. This work will be key in determiningfuture student numbers in this area and will be backed by appropriate recruitmentactivity.

As a result of service redesign,closure of long-stay hospitals and the development of shared care involving socialservices and the voluntary sector, perceptions about the learning disability categoryof nursing may have been affected. The Scottish Executive, together with NHS Education forScotland and the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability, has been working tomodernise the education and practice programmes in order to encourage recruitmentto this branch of nursing.

Additional help in areas of recruitmentwill be provided by Careers for Health which was launched at the NHSScotland HumanResources Conference on 16 May 2003.

The aims of Careers for Healthare to:

raise the profile of careersin the NHS;

act as a source of expertiseon all issues relating to careers guidance and support;

promote recruitment from a widerbase enabling health boards to gain access to the widest possible range of applicants,and

link health board personnel tokey stakeholders such as Careers Scotland and Job Centre Plus.

The Head of Learning and Careersfor Health was recruited over the summer and a work programme is currently beendevised. It is envisaged that a range of projects will be delivered to help addressthe issue of attracting individuals to careers in NHSScotland. Projects will includeconsideration of incentives, recruitment campaigns and retention initiatives.

We have also taken steps to addressattrition by improving the financial support available to students and the Nursingand Midwifery Student Bursary has increased by 21% since 1998. In addition, theSEHD and higher education institutions are also developing proposals for distancelearning and flexible access to courses to make sure that as many of our committedstudents as possible complete their training and go on to work in NHSScotland.

In the meantime, a study is tobe undertaken to consider the possible benefit to patients of alternative or additionalmethods of supply and distribution of portable oxygen. Additionally, considerationis to be given to the possible benefits of making conservation devices availableon the NHS in Scotland.

Table 1: Number ofConsultant Radiologist Vacancies (Headcount), as at 30 September

Source: ISD M (4), ISD Scotland.

Notes:

1. Table 1 includes honoraryappointments.

2. Comprises clinicalradiology and nuclear medicine.

3. The vacancy figuresrelate to posts vacant at 31 March, irrespective of when the vacancy arose.

Table 2: QualifiedRadiographer Vacancies (Whole Time Equivalent), as at 31 March

Source: ISD (M).

Notes:

1. Response rate: 2000(94%), 2001 (98%), 2002 (97%), 2003 (100%).

2. The vacancy figuresrelate to posts vacant at 31 March, irrespective of when the vacancy arose.