Mr. DavidAtkinson asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to increase the number of consultants.
§ Mr. NewtonAt 30 September 1986, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 13,785 consultants in post in England. The average rate of expansion since 1981 has been 2.15 per cent. per annum.
The proposals in the consultative document "Hospital Medical Staffing: Achieving a Balance" recommend that this basic rate of expansion should be maintained. In addition, the document proposes a pump-priming scheme for 100 extra consultant posts over two years. Funding for this scheme, amounting to £8.6 million over the next three years, was announced on 5 February and health authorities have been invited to submit bids for the posts. "Achieving a Balance" also contains proposals to further increase the number by converting surplus registrar and senior registrar posts to consultant.