§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many ear, nose and throat consultant posts are currently vacant; what percentage of National Health Service established posts is vacant; and what are the percentage figures for the last five years;
(2) what steps he is taking to reduce the number of vacant ear, nose and throat consultant posts.
§ Mr. MellorInformation about the percentage of posts vacant is set out in the table. It is for health authorities to decide what action is appropriate to fill particular vacant posts. The Department's role is to ensure that there are sufficient fully trained surgeons to take up the posts available. On the advice of the joint planning advisory committee an additional 11 whole time equivalent senior registrar posts were agreed earlier this year to meet authorities' plans for additional consultant posts over the next 10 years.
196W
Percentage of consultant posts without a permanent holder1 at 30 September: England Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery (Otolaryngology) 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 Number of vacant posts 29 28 26 16 14 Percentage2 7.8 7.5 7.0 4.4 3.8 Notes:
1. From 30 September 1986 the definition of a post without a permanent holder was amended to exclude posts for which a central manpower approval had been given which authorities had not the steps to establish. Central control over the establishment of new consultant posts in ENT was discontinued in 1984.
2. Posts without a permanent holder as a percentage of the sum of such posts and consultant staff in post in permanent paid posts.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average waiting time for an out-patient appointment to see an ear, nose and throat consultant; what has been the average time for each of the last five years; and how many districts currently have waiting times twice as long as the average or longer.
§ Mr. MellorWe do not collect information on out-patient waiting times centrally.