§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he intends to take to increase the number of oncologists per head of population. [56041]
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§ Mr. BoatengThe Specialty Workforce Advisory Group (SWAG) makes recommendations to the Department about the number of higher specialist trainees needed to meet future requirements for consultants in each specialty, including medical oncology and radiotherapy (clinical oncology). Estimates of future requirements are informed by the views of National Health Service management, the medical profession and other interested parties, who are represented on SWAG. Over the past three years SWAG has made recommendations for increases in medical oncology and radiotherapy, which will result in extra numbers of qualified candidates for consultant posts from 1999/2000 onwards.