Mr. Gareth R. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies there were for consultant psychiatry posts in each region in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [4139]
§ Mr. HuttonInformation about vacancies for consultant psychiatry posts is available only from 1999 onwards. This information is provided in the tables.
The NHS Plan provides for an additional 7,500 consultants by 2004. While those posts are filled there will inevitably be a temporary increase in the number of vacancies.
231W
Total for 20013,4 of which: Rates Posts Rates (Percentage) Posts (Percentage) (Number) Forensic General Old age Learning disabilities Forensic General Old age Learning disabilities England 8.3 190 5.2 7.8 9.3 13.3 10 130 30 30 Northern and Yorkshire 9.0 30 0.0 8.2 10.0 13.5 0 20 10 10 Trent 7.0 20 0.0 4.0 11.4 26.3 0 10 0 10 West Midlands 9.6 20 0.0 11.0 7.9 8.3 0 20 0 0 North West 13.5 40 18.2 12.2 14.6 21.7 0 30 10 10 Eastern 7.7 20 0.0 5.8 16.1 10.3 0 10 10 0 London 7.3 40 8.5 7.5 2.3 12.2 0 30 0 0 South East 1.5 30 7.7 10.2 8.5 11.1 0 30 10 0 South West 1.5 0 5— 1.3 0.0 6.7 5— 0 0 0 1 Three month vacancies are vacancies as at 31 March for each year which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole-time equivalents). 2 Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post from the September medical and dental and non-medical workforce censuses (whole-time equivalent). 3 In 1999 and 2000 breakdown of data was not available and includes consultants within child and adolescent and psychotherapy. The figures are therefore not comparable with the 2001 figures. 4 Total for consultants in forensic psychiatry, general psychiatry, learning disabilities and old age psychiatry. 5 Figures based on less than 10 posts. Notes:
1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.
2. Percentages rounded to one decimal place.
3. Totals may not equal sum of component parts due to rounding.