HC Deb 31 October 1989 vol 159 cc124-5W
Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will announce the allocation of the 100 new consultant posts promised in the White Paper, "Working for Patients."

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

I have approved 35 new posts for the first year of the scheme in 1989–90. Officials have today written to health authorities advising them of successful bids for posts in their area. The new posts we have created are over and above existing plans for new consultants. They are targeted on districts and specialties where there are long waiting times for treatment. They will enable many extra cases to be treated from waiting lists and will make a significant impact on the increasing demand which leads to long waits.

We will meet the full costs of the new posts up to a maximum of £500,000, which will cover the cost of the new consultants, plus additional staff and running costs, and essential equipment in support of the posts.

The annual running cost of posts approved in the first year of the scheme averages £360,000 with an additional average cost of £40,000 to cover one-off capital expenditure. The new posts are in general surgery (10 posts); trauma and orthopaedics (7 posts); obstetrics and gynaecology (5); ophthalmology (5); urology (3); ear nose and throat surgery (2); and (one post each in) medicine, oral surgery and plastic surgery. These new posts will be supported by additional medical and non-medical staff. A total of 13.5 whole-time equivalent consultants in anaesthetics; a small number of extra consultant sessions in radiology, audiology and histopathology; 16 whole-time equivalent junior medical staff; 377 nurses; 68 professional and technical staff and 113 other non-medical staff will be provided as a result of the scheme in its first year. We are seeking further information from health authorities on a number of the other bids, and I expect to announce the allocation of the remaining 65 new posts early next year.

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response he has received from the Royal College of Psychiatrists on the National Health Service White Paper "Working for Patients"; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeman

The response we have received from the Royal College of Psychiatrists endorses the Government's aims for the Health Service. It raises a number of concerns regarding the implication of our proposed reforms for mental health services. Many of these concerns will be addressed in the White Paper on the future development of community care which we hope to publish very shortly.