§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors were employed at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on(a) 1 May 1997 and (b) the latest available date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [160364]
§ Yvette CooperThe table shows the number of hospital medical and dental staff employed by the Royal Shrewsbury hospital national health service trust in both 1997 and 2000. This indicates an increase in the number of doctors working at the trust:
Hospital medical and dental staff within the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital NHS Trust At 30 September Number 1997 200 2000 220 Note
Figures rounded to the nearest 10
Source:
Department of Health medical and dental workforce census
We are committed to further increasing the number of staff in the national health service and outlined proposals for this in the NHS plan, published in July 2000. Proposals include 7,500 more consultants and 2000 more general practitioners by 2004.