§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) general practitioner, (b) consultant (c) junior doctor and (d) nursing midwifery posts were vacant in each of the last five years. [4185]
§ Mr. MaloneThe available information is shown in the table. Information on vacancies for general practitioners is not centrally available. Figures on nursing and midwifery vacancies collected by the Office of Manpower and Economics are available in the annual report of the Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine. Copies of the review body's report are placed in the Library each year.
The process of appointment of a doctor typically involves advertising the post and the selection of the most suitable candidate to fill it. The numbers of vacancies on 30 September will include many posts which happen to be vacant on that day but are in process of being filled.
578WConsultant vacant posts as at 30 September each year in England (whole-time equivalent)
- 1990: 700
- 1991: 470
- 1992: 540
- 1993: 480
- 1994: 570.
Whole-time equivalent of junior doctor vacant posts as at 30 September each year in England 1990 19911 1992 1993 1994 Total junior doctors2 530 — 580 640 640 Senior registrar 230 — 180 200 200 Registrar 230 — 280 310 280 Senior house officer 70 — 120 130 170 1Data on junior doctors for 1991 are available only at disproportionate cost. 2Vacant post figures for house officers are not collected. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10, therefore individual grades may not add up to the total.