§ Mr. ConnartyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what actions her Department is taking to ensure that reductions in junior doctors' hours do not create or increase shortages of junior doctors in(a) paediatrics and (b) other specialties.
§ Mr. MaloneSince the new deal was launched in 1991 we have funded an extra 750 career grade posts specifically to reduce juniors' hours.
The number of paediatric consultants increased by 9.1 per cent. in 1992–93.
In accident and emergency the increase was 11 per cent. and in both anaesthetics and obstetrics and gynaecology, the increase was nearly 4 per cent.