§ Lord Molloyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have noted the statement of Michael Lowe, head of the Hospitals Division of the British Medical Association (The Times, 22nd April 1982) that there are approximately 1,000 unfilled consultant vacancies at NHS hospitals due to lack of funds while there are 1,000 unemployed doctors, and what the Government propose to do to remedy this situation.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Lord Trefgarne)Yes, we have noted the letter, but while we are keeping the situation under close surveillance, we see no reason to introduce special measures.
On 10th March 1982 the number of persons registered with the Department of Employment as seeking work as medical practitioners numbered 933, which represented less than 1 per cent. of all registered doctors, and past analyses have shown that of those so registered about half have been registered for less than three months. Between 1979 and 1981 the numbers of hospital medical staff in England and Wales rose by 1,734.
The latest figure—of 1,070 consultant posts without a permanent holder—relates to 30th September 1981; 1254WA one-third were in fact occupied by locums. Of the rest, it is not correct that they were all unfilled through lack of funds; for instance, a substantial proportion remained vacant despite repeated advertisement and many of the others were in process of being filled. With more than 13,000 consultant posts in the NHS, it is inevitable that on a particular day some posts will be vacant following retirement, resignation or death.