§ Dr. MurrisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many consultant microbiologist vacancies there were in the NHS in England on the last date for which figures are available, broken down by region; [147495]
(2) how many new posts in medical microbiology have been created in the NHS in the past 10 years, broken down by region; [147496]
(3) how many medical microbiology training posts there were in the NHS in England in each year since 1990. [147497]
§ Mr. HuttonVacancy data is collected by the Department of Health as three-month vacancies as at 31 March each year. These are vacancies which trusts are actively trying to fill, which have lasted for three months or more.
Information showing the number of three-month microbiology and virology consultant vacancies as at 31 March 2003 in England, by strategic health authority has been placed in the Library.
The Department does not collect data on the number of new posts in microbiology and virology. Workforce data are collected through the annual Department of Health medical workforce census. The census is a snapshot of data as at 30 September in the appropriate year. The information in the table shows the net increase in the number of staff in microbiology and virology since 1992.
1067WDue to the variation in regional boundaries over the stated time period, between 1992 and 1997, a breakdown by national health service regional office has also been placed in the Library. Between 1998 and 2002, data is shown by government office regions.
Between 1997 and 2002, staff increased by 22 per cent.
The table shows the number of medical microbiology and virology training posts in England since 1990.
Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): Doctors in training with a specialty in medical microbiology and virology; 1990–2002—England, as at 30 September Number (headcount) All training grades of which: Registrar Senior House Officer House Officer 2002 179 162 17 — 2001 156 143 13 — 2000 141 121 20 — 1999 142 131 11 — 1998 136 125 11 — 1997 139 125 14 — 1996 134 124 10 — 1995 159 145 14 — 1994 189 176 13 — 1993 182 163 18 1 1992 173 159 14 — 1991 191 175 16 — 1990 163 146 17 — Source: Department of Health medical and dental workforce census