§ Mr. TimmsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the likely difficulties in recruiting health service psychiatrists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists in the next financial year. [23351]
§ Mr. MaloneThe Specialist Workforce Advisory Group has recommended a significant increase in training opportunities for doctors wishing to become consultants. As a result, we are providing additional funding of £5.7 million in 1996–97 which will be targeted at specialties which have the greatest need including psychiatry, old age psychiatry and forensic psychiatry.
In August 1995, the national health service executive issued planning guidance (EL(95)96) recommending that education commissioners should take full account of factors affecting demand for physiotherapists and occupational therapists, including non-NHS demand. As a result, training commissions are planned to rise in 1996–97 by around 12 per cent. for physiotherapists and around 5 per cent. for occupational therapists.