HL Deb 18 July 2000 vol 615 cc81-2WA
Lord Jacobs

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In order to satisfy their requirements for an improved performance by the National Health Service, what is their estimate of the number of additional (a) nurses; (b) doctors; (c) specialists; and (d) hospital beds needed. [HL3330]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

Extra money made available from the Comprehensive Spending Review will enable the National Health Service to take on up to 7,000 more doctors and 15,000 more nurses by March 2002 to improve frontline care. We intend to ensure there are the right number of the right sort of beds in the right places in order to meet patient needs. As a result we set up the National Beds Inquiry, which was published for consultation earlier this year.

The requirements for nurses, hospital and family doctors and hospital beds in the NHS will be reviewed as part of the National Plan for Health, which is due to be published shortly.