HC Deb 28 January 1981 vol 997 cc425-6W
Dr. Roger Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in the light of recent evidence that fully qualified trained general practitioners are finding it difficult to get posts as principals, if he intends to reduce the medical school entry in the next two years.

Dr. Vaughan

No. Although there is competition for posts as principals in general practice, I am not aware that fully qualified and otherwise suitable candidates are finding it difficult to get posts.

Dr. Roger Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many consultant posts for each

Hospital medical consultant vacant posts* analysis by region and length of time vacant England 30 September 1980
All posts Vacant less than 6 months Vacant 6 months but less than 1 year Vacant 1 year or more
Region Numbers Wte Numbers Wte Numbers Wte Numbers Wte
England 1,106 921.5 283 246.0 219 198.8 604 476.8
Northern 78 73.0 24 21.0 23 22.5 31 29.5
Yorkshire 63 62.2 16 15.5 11 11.0 36 35.7
Trent 94 92.4 30 30.0 12 12.0 52 50.4
East Anglia 27 24.8 13 12.2 6 5.4 8 7.3
North West Thames 73 43.7 15 11.5 15 12.1 43 20.1
North East Thames 172 118.2 28 21.0 18 11.7 126 85.3
South East Thames 73 55.9 19 14.2 26 24.1 28 17.7
South West Thames 79 40.1 25 16.8 8 6.4 46 16.8
Wessex 14 12.1 5 5.0 5 4.8 4 2.3
Oxford 51 48.7 1 1.0 23 21.4 27 26.4
South Western 28 25.6 22 20.3 2 1.3 4 4.0
West Midlands 162 151.4 19 17.1 26 25.8 117 108.5
Mersey 46 43.2 17 16.8 4 3.3 25 23.1
North Western 125 121.0 44 41.4 36 34.7 45 44.9
London PGTH's 21 9.3 5 2.2 4 2.3 12 4.8
* Figures include all posts not occupied by a pennanent holder at 30 September 1980 including posts approved by the Department but not yet occupied or advertised. In former years only vacancies which had been previously occupied or advertised were included.
Hospital dental consultant vacant posts* analysis by region and length of time vacant showing numbers and whole-time equivalent England 30 September 1980
All posts Vacant less than 6 months Vacant 6 months but less than 1 year Vacant 1 year or more
Region Numbers Wte Numbers Wte Numbers Wte Numbers Wte
England 13 24.7 9 8.1 9 8.5 13 8.1
Northern 2 2.0 1 1.0 1 1.0
Yorkshire
Trent 3 2.6 2 2.0 1 0.6
East Anglia

recognised specialities remain vacant for each of the English health regions; and how many such posts have been vacant for three months, six months and one year.

Dr. Vaughan

I regret that information in the form requested could be produced only at disproportionate cost. However, the attached table shows by region the number and whole-time equivalent (wte) of consultant posts vacant for under six months, for six months to a year, and for a year or more. Of the 921.5 wte posts vacant, 247.9 wte posts were occupied by locums. Further analyses by specialty will be available next month and will be placed in the Library of the House.