§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many of the extra therapists by 2004 announced in the NHS plan will be physiotherapists; [34022]
(2) how many extra physiotherapists will be trained in each of the years from 2001 to 2004 as part of the NHS plan target to provide 4,450 more therapist and other key health professional training places each year by 2004. [34023]
§ Mr. HuttonThe targets to provide 6,500 more therapists and other health professionals and 4,450 more therapist and other key health professional training places by 2004, have not been broken down into the different professions.
Between 1999 and 2001 the number of allied health professionals increased by 3,400. A third (1,140) of this total increase was made up of physiotherapists. We would expect this proportion to remain broadly the same across the rest of the plan period.
Between 1999–2000 and 2000–01 the number of physiotherapy training commissions increased by 127 (9 per cent.) and are projected to rise by a further 91 in 2001–02 (a total increase of 16 per cent. on the 1999–2000 baseline). We are working with work force development confederations to determine the split in the remainder of commissions. Early projections suggest an increase of at least 280 more training commissions for 336W physiotherapy by 2003–04 (the largest increase in the professions covered). Recommendations on the final allocation will be made by the work force numbers advisory board later in the year and will take into account supply and demand information for physiotherapy.