§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the ratio of junior hospital staff up to and including senior registrars to consultant staff, excluding associate specialists, in each of the recognised specialties in each of the English health regions in the year for which the latest figures are available.
§ Mr. NewtonI shall let the hon. Member have the information that can be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost as soon as possible.
§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what measure he proposes to correct the imbalance between the numbers of junior hospital doctors in training and the numbers of consultant posts available; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonProposals to correct the imbalance in the hospital medical staffing structure, agreed between Health Ministers, chairmen of regional health authorities, and the Joint Consultants Committee, were published in July in the consultative document "Achieving a Balance", a copy of which is in the Library. The period of consultation has recently ended. In the light of the replies received, Ministers will be holding further discussions with health authorities and with the medical profession to develop detailed plans to put these proposals into effect.