AQW 53907/11-16

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 05/02/2016
Answered On Date: 22/03/2016
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of (i) nurse; and (ii) GP vacancies in East Londonderry; and how many of these are specialist practice positions.

Answer:

(i)The information requested is not available. GPs are independent contractors who contract with the HSCB to provide primary medical services to their patients. As independent contractors they are responsible for deciding on and recruiting additional GPs and other staff required to deliver services to their patients.

(ii)The East Londonderry constituency is split between the Western and Northern Health and Social Care Trusts. The Western HSC Trust is currently recruiting to 2 (1.80 whole-time equivalent) Band 5 nursing vacancies in Dungiven. Neither of these is a specialist practice position. The Northern HSC Trust covers the Coleraine area within East Londonderry, and is currently recruiting to 8 (6.04 WTE) qualified nursing and midwifery vacancies in that area, all at the Causeway Hospital. None of these is a specialist practice position.