§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set out the current figures for unfilled consultant posts broken down into specialties, indicating what proportion of posts are vacant because they have been frozen or because they have not attracted suitable applicants; and in the latter case, how many such posts have been re-advertised at the top of the incremental scale and with what success.
§ Dr. VaughanThe following table sets out for each specialty the number and whole-time equivalent of consultant posts without a permanent holder in England and Wales at 30 September 1981 and of those not advertised during the previous 12 months. The total of 1,070—(912 WTE)—compares with 1,163—(971 WTE)—at 30 September 1980.
Complete information is not held centrally on why authorities have not advertised posts or on those which they have re-advertised at the top of the incremental scale. However, of the 1,298 consultant posts advertised in the 12 months ending 30 September 1980, the results of the advertisements for 853 have been analysed; this analysis shows that no applications were received in respect of 112 posts and a further 166 remained unfilled after appointment procedures had been completed.
159W
Vacant posts Posts not advertised Specialty Number WTE WTE of posts occupied by locums Number WTE WTE occupied by locums Cardio-thoracic surgery 14 11.6 1.2 10 8.6 1.2 Accident and emergency 10 9.2 4.0 3 2.2 1.0 Neurosurgery 7 3.2 — 5 1.5 — Obstetrics and gynaecology 27 22.3 3.8 20 15.6 2.1 Mental handicap 37 35.5 13.0 13 12.5 4.4 Mental illness 109 101.3 37.1 63 57.1 17.7 Child and adolescent psychiatry 62 50.8 6.3 45 36.5 2.6 Forensic psychiatry 5 5.0 1.0 5 5.0 1.0 Psychotherapy 7 5.4 0.3 4 2.8 — Chemical pathology 17 17.0 0.4 10 10.0 — Haematology 29 27.1 5.6 16 14.6 3.0 Histopathology 30 27.5 9.4 16 13.5 2.8 Medical microbiology 27 26.6 1.0 18 18.0 0.5 Neuropathology 13 8.4 1.8 9 5.0 0.9 Immunopathology 3 2.5 — 2 2.0 — Radiology 105 93.3 28.1 45 33.7 6.8 Anaesthetics 121 100.7 40.8 60 44.7 17.7 Blood transfusion 2 2.0 — 1 1.0 — Other 2 1.5 — 2 1.5 — All dental specialties 26 20.9 1.1 17 13.8 0.4 Oral surgery 14 9.7 0.6 10 6.8 0.4 Orthodontics 10 9.7 — 7 7.0 — Restorative dentistry 2 1.5 0.5 — — —