§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors have(a) applied for and (b) been accepted on to specialist consultant lists; and how many are awaiting accreditation. [10068]
§ Mr. MilburnSince 12 January 1996, the General Medical Council has received approximately 40,000 applications for entry to the specialist register. To date, the names of 29,219 doctors have been entered onto the register. These include both existing specialists and doctors who have completed their specialist training since 12 January. Since 1 January 1997, it has been a legal requirement for a doctor to be entered on the specialist register before taking up a substantive or honorary NHS consultant appointment.
The system of accreditation by the medical royal colleges was replaced from 12 January 1996 by the introduction of the certificate of completion of specialist training, awarded by the Specialist Training Authority. To date, the STA has awarded 1,589 CCSTs to doctors who have completed their specialist training.