§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many neurologists there are per 100,000 population in(a) England and (b) each member state of the European Union. [11881]
§ Mr. MaloneThere were 510 neurologists in England as at 30 September 1995. This gives one doctor per 100,000 of population.
The Department receives no information about the numbers of neurologists in other member states of the European Union.
§ Mr. PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average waiting time for a consultation with a consultant neurologist following a General Practitioner referral in each NHS trust in England. [11899]
§ Mr. HoramThis information is not available centrally. Such information as is available is contained in "Waiting Times for First Outpatient Appointments in England: Detailed Statistics—Quarter ended 30 September 1996", copies of which are available in the Library.
§ Mr. PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase the number of neurologists. [11882]
§ Mr. MaloneThe specialist workforce advisory group advises the NHS executive and the Welsh Office on the number of higher specialist trainees needed, to ensure an adequate supply of properly trained doctors in each specialty. The Government accepted its recommendation to increase the number of higher specialist trainees in 1996–97 by 1,500. Additional funding of £5.7 million has been provided for this. The recommended increase in numbers of higher specialist trainees in neurology was 12 per cent.