§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultant vacancies currently exist in accident and emergency departments. [102084]
§ Ms StuartThe latest available information about consultant vacancies in accident and emergency is contained in the Department of Health Recruitment, Retention and Vacancies Survey, March 1999, copies of which are available in the Library.
§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many accident and emergency departments currently have no consultant in post. [102085]
§ Ms StuartInformation about the number of staff in individual hospital departments is not collected centrally. The latest available data show that, of those National Health Service trusts with a major accident and emergency department (consultant-led service with full resuscitation facilities) on 31 March 1998, every one had at least one consultant in post on 30 September 1998.
§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of UK CCST holders who are available to fill consultant vacancies in accident and emergency departments. [102086]
§ Ms StuartFor England and Wales, information about the current numbers of higher specialist trainees holding Certificates of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST) is not collected centrally. Information from the Regional Postgraduate Deans suggests that around 20 higher specialist trainees in accident and emergency medicine should have gained their CCST in 1999. We anticipate that around 40 should qualify in 2000 and there will be around 320 qualifying for consultant posts in accident and emergency medicine between now and 2004.
Questions relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the First Secretary for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.