Ministers have launched a new website aimed at improving recruitment in the NHS.

A total of 46 NHS organisations will begin posting vacancies online this week, while the system will be rolled out nationally from March 2004, after which the service is expected to save £24 million per year.

As many as a quarter of a million people are estimated to find jobs in the NHS each year.

"To build on our success in increasing the numbers of key staff in the NHS we need to make it much easier for people to find out what jobs are available," said health minister John Hutton.

"We also need to speed up recruitment so that people can access the rewarding careers that the NHS has to offer.

"I am delighted that the department is leading the way with the introduction of this service, which will not only help the NHS to recruit the people it needs, but also help candidates to find and apply for the jobs they want with as much ease as possible."