§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on medical education post reductions in relation to the strategic alliance between the Department of Health and the Higher Education Funding Council for England. [61466]
§ Mr. HuttonThe strategic alliance for health and social care was concluded between the Department and the higher education funding council for England in April 2002. It will build on existing arrangements for consultation and liaison between the Department and the higher education funding council for England.
Within the framework of the strategic alliance the Permanent Secretary of the Department and the chief executive of the higher education funding council for England will be meeting on 3 July 2002. Delivery of the medical school expansion programme, a key element of the NHS Plan, will be among the issues to be discussed.
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§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what meeting he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills to discuss the implications of staffing reductions at medical schools. [61463]
§ Mr. HuttonRegular meetings take place at official and ministerial level between the Department of Health and Department for Education and Skills (DFES). I am scheduled to meet with my hon. Friend the Minister of State at DFES on 26 June and staffing levels at medical schools will be among the issues to be discussed.
§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what role medical schools have in implementing the National Plan's human resources priorities. [61469]
§ Mr. HuttonMedical schools have an important role in implementing the NHS Plan human resources priorities. In particular, the implementation of medical school expansion will support the increase in the number of medical school places outlined in the Plan.
§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many medical students have graduated in each of the last five years; and how many in each year worked within the NHS upon graduating. [61433]
§ Mr. HuttonThe numbers of graduates from English medical schools in each of the last five academic years is shown in the table. The graduates referred to in the answer will almost all have entered medical school between autumn 1991 and autumn 1996.
Academic year Number of English medical school graduates 1996–97 3,025 1997–98 3,261 1998–99 3,097 1999–2000 3,373 2000–01 3,286 In order to become fully registered with the General Medical Council, all medical school graduates need to satisfactorily complete a year as a Pre-Registration House Officer (PRHO). Virtually all graduates of English medical schools undertake their PRHO year in the national health service.
The number of PRHOs in the NHS in England in each of the last five years is shown in the table.
Academic year Number of PRHOs in post 1996–97 3,356 1997–98 3,447 1998–99 3,543 1999–2000 3,641 2000–01 3,685