§ Mr. McCrindleTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many physiotherapists have been trained in each of the past five years at Guys' and St. Thomas' schools of physiotherapy; how many physiotherapists will be trained at these schools in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorThe intake of student physiotherapists to the two schools is set out in the table:
Guys' St. Thomas' 1984 38 24 1985 30 24 1986 30 24 1987 30 24 1988 30 24 The South East Thames regional health authority, which is responsible for managing physiotherapy training arrangements in the region, plans to cease intakes to these schools as from 1989, when new courses will begin at King's college, University of London and Brighton polytechnic.
§ Mr. McCrindleTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will estimate the number of unfilled physiotherapy posts in each regional health authority in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will estimate the number of unfilled physiotherapy posts in the four London regional health authorities over the past five years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorWe do not have information on the number of physiotherapy posts vacant against funded establishments on a regional basis. However, the results of the most recent sample surveys of health authorities suggest that nationally about 3.6 per cent, of funded posts for physiotherapists are unfilled after three months.
§ Mr. McCrindleTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what projections he has of the availability of physiotherapists in the London area over the next five and next 10 years; if these take into account the effect of the development of a new school in Eastbourne and subsequently at Brighton polytechnic; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorWe await the report of a joint working party recently set up by the Manpower Planning Advisory 909W Group (which advises regional chairmen and the National Health Service management board) and the chartered Society of Physiotherapy which is urgently undertaking a reveiw of the short-term manpower situation in the profession. The results will be available by early next year. In spring 1989 we shall be issuing guidance on a supply strategy for the next five to 10 years. This work will take account of any particular supply problems of the London area and of proposals for new schools such as that proposed at Brighton polytechnic. Officials are in close touch with the region concerned on the details of this proposal.