HC Deb 22 December 1997 vol 303 cc531-2W
Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list each medical speciality and number of current vacancies for qualified doctors in it. [21864]

Mr. Milburn

The latest available information is shown in the table. Vacant medical posts by specialty in England on 30 September 1996:

Number
All Specialties: Total 1,410
General Medicine Group 280
General Medicine 90
Cardiovascular Disease 20
Diabetes and Endocrinology 10
Gastroenterology 0
Renal Disease 10
Palliative Medicine 10
Respiratory Medicine 10
Geriatric Medicine 50
Audiological Medicine 0
Clinical Neurophysiology 0
Clinical Genetics 0
Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 0
Rehabilitation Medicine 10
Dermatology 10
Medical Oncology 0
Venereology 10
Communicable Diseases 0
Neurology 20
Occupational Medicine 0
Rheumatology 20
Other 0
Paediatrics (Inc Paediatric neurology) 70
Paediatrics 70
Paediatric Neurology 0
Accident and Emergency 70
Number
Surgical Group 280
General Surgery 80
Thoracic Surgery 0
Otolaryngology 20
Neurological Surgery 10
Ophthalmology 40
Paediatric Surgery 0
Plastic Surgery 10
Orthopaedic Surgery 90
Urology 30
Obstetrics and Gynaecology 40
Anaesthetics 180
Diagnostic Radiology Group 60
Diagnostic Radiology 60
Nuclear Medicine 0
Radiotherapy 20
Pathology Group 60
General Pathology 0
Chemical Pathology 10
Blood Transfusion 0
Haematology 10
Morbid Anatomy and Histopathology 20
Immunology 0
Medical Microbiology 10
Virology 0
Neuropathology 0
Psychiatry Group 360
Psychiatry 210
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 40
Forensic Psychiatry 20
Learning Disabilities 40
Old Age Psychiatry 50
Psychotherapy 10

Source:

The Medical and Dental Workforce Census 30 September 1996.

Notes:

1. All figures are whole-time equivalents, rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not agree due to rounding. "O" denotes less than 10.

2. Includes consultant, staff grade, specialist registrar, senior registrar, registrar and senior house officer.

Data on vacant posts are difficult to interpret and do not necessarily imply a shortage. The census is a snap of 30 September each year. Some vacancies will be wholly or partly filled by locums. For others National Health Service trusts may find alternative ways to provide the service rather than re-advertising. The numbers give no indication of how long the post has been empty; some of these will be in the process of being filled.