Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which NHS health trusts have (a) recruited and (b) advertised for staff outside the UK since 1 January 2013.

The Department does not hold information on National Health Service trusts that have recruited or advertised for staff outside the United Kingdom since 1 January 2013.

It is the responsibility of local NHS organisations to plan and deliver a workforce appropriate to the needs of their local population, based on clinical need and sound evidence.

The nature of the NHS labour market means that supply shortages in specific specialisms and geographies do exist. It is likely that some overseas recruitment will be necessary to support the qualified workforce supply, however, the NHS now has many more healthcare professionals, and is much closer to self-sufficiency – in line with World Health Organization recommendations.