HC Deb 28 April 1989 vol 151 cc693-4W
Mr. Brandon-Bravo

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many permanent consultant posts, inclusive of the addition of 100 in the White Paper proposals, he estimates will be in place by the late 1990s; what is the estimated cost of this programme; how the cost of additional consultants is shown in forward National Health Service spending plans; and if he will make a statement.

Change in population between 1990 and 2000
Thousands
Total (1) (2)
North 75 and over 28.4 25.0 3.4
85 and over 15.5 14.8 0.7
Yorkshire and Humberside 75 and over 26.1 29.7 -3.6
85 and over 23.7 24.8 -1.1
East Midlands 75 and over 39.0 35.0 4.0
85 and over 23.1 22.1 0.9
East Anglia 75 and over 28.3 16.6 11.6
85 and over 17.5 14.3 3.2
South East 75 and over 97.5 123.0 -25.6
85 and over 93.5 100.7 -7.1
Greater London 75 and over -14.2 37.1 -51.3
85 and over 24.6 39.5 -14.9
Rest of South East 75 and over 111.7 85.9 25.7
85 and over 69.0 61.2 7.8
South West 75 and over 46.7 26.6 20.1
85 and over 38.6 32.5 6.1
West Midlands 75 and over 49.6 54.9 -5.3
85 and over 26.6 28.1 -1.5
North West 75 and over 21.5 26.7 -5.2

Mr. Mellor

The projections prepared for "Hospital Medical Staffing—Achieving a Balance—Plan for Action" published in October 1987 suggested that the number of consultants in England and Wales in 1998 would be 19,473. The 100 new consultants announced in "Working for Patients" are not included in this figure.

Expenditure on consultants is not separately identified in NHS spending plans.

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