§ Mr. Randallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps his Department is taking to fill vacant 554W hospital doctor posts in accident and emergency departments (i) in the Hull royal infirmary and (ii) throughout the National Health Service.
§ Mr. NewtonResponsibility for the medical staffing of a particular hospital department lies with the local health authority. Information is not available centrally about vacant medical posts in accident and emergency departments although we are aware that some posts have been difficult to fill. We are keeping the position under review, but the underlying problem appears to be the imbalance in the hospital medical staffing structure which our proposals in "Hospital Medical Staffing—Achieving a Balance" are expected to correct. The number of doctors in post in England in the specialty of accident and emergency has increased by 16.5 per cent. since 1979—from 1,421 whole-time equivalents to 1,656 whole-time equivalents in 1986. The numbers in all medical specialties increased by 13 per cent. in the same period.