§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation his Department has made of the role physiotherapists play in cutting waiting lists and reducing patients' stay in hospital. [102556]
§ Mr. DenhamWe have not made a formal evaluation. However, physiotherapists play an increasingly important role in preventing admissions to hospital and enabling people who no longer need to be in hospital to return home.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many physiotherapists left the NHS in each of the last five years. [102557]
§ Mr. DenhamThe available information is given in the table. Information on the numbers of physiotherapists joining and leaving the National Health Service is not418W collected centrally, but the annual non-medical workforce census gives total numbers of physiotherapists at 30 September each year.
NHS hospital and community health services—Physiotherapists in England at 30 September each year Year Headcount 1994 13,260 1995 13,400 1996 13,740 1997 14,030 1998 14,490 Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten.
2. Due to rounding totals may not equal the sum of component parts.
3. Figures exclude learners.
4. Due to a change in classification in 1995 for collecting the data, from payscale to occupational code, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 figures are non-comparable with earlier years.
Source:
Department of Health non-medical workforce census.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS physiotherapy posts are vacant in each health region in England. [102558]
§ Mr. DenhamThe available information is given in the table.
Department of Health Recruitment, Retention and Vacancies Survey. Vacancies in NHS Trusts by Region; physiotherapists as at 31 March 1999 whole time equivalents Physiotherapists Total vacancies 1 3-month vacancies 2 England total 990 420 Northern and Yorkshire 100 30 Trent 80 40 West Midlands 130 70 North West 130 60 Eastern 110 50 London 200 100 South East 150 50 South West 80 20 1 Posts that Trusts were actively trying to fill at 31 March 1999 2 Posts that had been vacant for three months or more at 31 March 1999 3 Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 Source:
Department of Health Recruitment, Retention and Vacancies Survey 1999