§ Ms PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the total number of casualty consultants and casualties in the latest available year; and what is her Department's guidance on the number of casualty consultants needed nationally or per casualty.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe total number of consultants in accident and emergency—A and E—departments in England at 30 September 1991 was 219 (216.4 whole-time equivalents). During the year ended 31 March 1992 there were 10,978,000 new attendances in A and E departments. Not all A and E departments are led by A and E consultants; some are led by consultants in orthopaedics, others by consultants in surgery.
We do not issue guidance on the number of consultants in A and E needed nationally or per casualty. It is a matter for each employing authority to determine the number of consultants needed in its A and E departments in the light of local needs.