asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the health boards place their recruitment advertisements exclusively with one newspaper group; that these are not repeated at any time in any of the other newspapers; that this creates obvious problems for people interested in health recruitment advertisements and who do not purchase the particular publication in which they appear; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Health Boards' Recruitment Advertisements.
149.
Prior to 1986, health boards placed their recruitment advertisements on an individual basis, using various agencies and newspapers. Realising that considerable savings could be made by adopting a unified approach, they asked the main advertising agencies to submit presentations/tenders and finally selected an agency whose main strategy was to confine advertising to one newspaper group.
I understand that the anticipated savings have been realised to the amount of 40 per cent approximately and the system, which is working well, has drawn no adverse criticism from groups representing health staff interests.