§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) consultant posts and (b) nursing posts are currently vacant; and how many posts in each category have been vacant for more than three months. [426]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Department of Health vacancy survey for 2000 collected only the number of vacancies which have lasted for three months or more as at 30 March. These figures are given in the table.
Results from 2001 vacancy survey are not yet available.
Department of Health Vacancies Survey three month vacancy figures1 for Consultants and Nursing staff as at 31 March 20002 Number All consultants 600 General medicine group of specialities 90 Paediatrics 40 Accident and emergency 30 Surgical group of specialities 60 Obstetrics and gynaecology 10 Anaesthetics 30 Radiology group of specialities 70 Clinical oncology 10 Pathology group of specialities 50 Psychiatry group of specialities 190 Dental (hospital or public health) 20 All qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 10,110 Acute, elderly and general care 6,390 Paediatrics 620 Learning difficulties 310 Psychiatry 1,440 Midwives 510 District nurses 150 Health visitors 190 Other qualified nurses 490 1Posts that had been vacant for three months or more as at 31 March 2000. 2Figures are different from those previously published due to the discovery of figures for four trusts, which had not given detailed breakdown of vacancies within staff groups, being excluded altogether from the results. Notes:
1. Figures are whole time equivalents rounded to the nearest 10.
2. Three month vacancies are classified as vacant for three months or more, but have actively been tried to be filled.
3. Totals may not add up due to rounding.
Source:
Department of Health Vacancies Survey.