HC Deb 26 February 2001 vol 363 cc429-30W
Mr. Harvey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 29 January 2001,Official Report, column 51W, on training places, how many of the nurses in the NHS Plan will be (a) returning to nursing, (b) from overseas, (c) newly qualified and (d) others in each year from 2000 until 2004; and if he will make a statement. [149378]

Mr. Denham

The NHS Plan commitment is that between now and 2004 there will be 20,000 more nurses. Annual targets have not been set. The increase in staff will be made up of students coming out of training and a range of recruitment and retention initiatives including staff returning to practice, international recruitment and measures to reduce the number of staff leaving the National Health Service.

Mr. Harvey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 1 February 2001,Official Report, column 264W, on medical school training places, how many of the (a) general practitioners and (b) consultants pledged in the NHS Plan will be (i) those returning to medical practice, (ii) doctors from overseas, (iii) doctors from elsewhere in the NHS and (iv) others, for each year from 2000 until 2004; and if he will make a statement. [149435]

Mr. Denham

The NHS Plan commitments are for 7,500 more consultants and 2,000 more general practitioners by 2004. Annual targets have not been set. The increase in staff will be made up of doctors coming out of training and a range of recruitment and retention initiatives including staff returning to practice, international recruitment and measures to reduce the number of staff leaving the National Health Service.

Mr. Harvey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 29 January 2001,Official Report, column 51W, on training places, how many of the therapists in the NHS Plan will be (a) returning to the profession, (b) professionals from overseas, (c) newly qualified professionals and (d) others, in each year from 2000 to 2004; and if he will make a statement. [149432]

Mr. Denham

The NHS Plan commitment is for an increase of 6,500 therapists and other health professionals by 2004. Annual targets have not been set. The increase in staff will be made up of students coming out of training and a range of recruitment and retention initiatives including staff returning to practice, international recruitment and measures to reduce the number of staff leaving the National Health Service.