§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a table showing the total number of finished consultant episodes within each English health region for(a) 1990–91, (b) 1991–92 and (c) 1992–93.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe information is shown in the table.
Finished consultant episodes, NHS hospitals, England (Thousands) 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 England Total1 8,785.3 9,302.2 9,636.3 Northern RHA 628.5 655.3 678.2 Yorkshire RHA 722.1 751.5 784.6 Trent RHA 809.2 858.8 899.5 East Anglian RHA 361.0 379.3 388.4 North West Thames RHA 536.2 576.7 600.4 North East Thames RHA 695.2 746.6 762.2 South East Thames RHA 629..2 673.1 702.5 South West Thames RHA 457.6 500.6 522.2 Wessex RHA 526.2 562.5 573.9 Oxford RHA 383.3 404.9 431.1 South Western RHA 588.1 617.6 647.2 West Midlands RHA 959.7 1,006.7 1,029.1 Mersey RHA 487.2 519.1 541.6 North Western RHA 887.0 927.0 944.4 1 Includes special health authorities. Source: KP70 Returns-SD2A.
§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to increase the number of consultants in the NHS.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe Government encourage consultant expansion in line with the "Achieving a Balance" policy agreed with the medical profession and the national health service. However, it is a matter for each employing body to determine the number of consultants needed in each specialty in the light of local needs and competing priorities. Copies of "Achieving a Balance" are available in the Library.