HL Deb 03 March 1997 vol 578 cc124-6WA
Lord Ironside

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many medical officers are regularly serving in each rank and professional grade of the Armed Services; and how many of these who have applied for premature voluntary retirement (PVR) have now been accepted and under what conditions.

Earl Howe

The number of regular Service medical officers in each rank and professional specialisation as at 14 February 1997 is set out below. The figures include trainees in the particular specialisation.

Surgeon Lt/Capt/Flt Lt Surgeon Lt Cdr/Major/SqnLdr Surgeon Cdr/Lt Col/Wg Cdr Surgeon Capt/Col/Gp Capt Surgeon Cdre/Brig/Air Cdre Surgeon Rear Adm Maj/Gen AVM Surgeon Vice Adm/Gen Air Marshal
Accident and Emergency 0 4 1 0 0 0 0
General/Orthopaedic Surgery 24 36 29 5 5 0 0
Pathology 1 3 6 1 2 0 0
Physicians 11 16 19 8 6 0 0
Ophthalmology 2 5 3 0 0 0 0
Radiology 0 9 5 0 0 0 0
Ear Nose and Throat 1 4 5 0 0 0 0
Paediatrics 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
Rheumatology and Rehabilitation 0 3 2 2 1 0 0
Psychiatry 6 9 8 2 0 0 0
Burns and Plastics 0 3 1 0 0 0 0
Oromaxiliofacial 0 2 5 2 0 0 0
Totals 271 312 226 59 24 5 1

Of these 898 officers, 24 have applied and been accepted for Premature Voluntary Retirement (PVR). All medical officers are required to serve an 18 months' notice period if they wish to leave on PVR. Those who may already be required to give a specific period of service in return for training received are required to serve out that period of service or the 18 months' PVR notice period, whichever is the longer.