HC Deb 19 July 2001 vol 372 cc435-6W
Dr. Murrison

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the number of whole-time equivalent consultant vacancies in the NHS by specialty. [4421]

Mr. Hutton

Information is not available about the number of whole-time equivalent consultant vacancies. The Department collects information about vacant consultant posts, and information by speciality, taken from the 2001 vacancy survey, is provided in the table.

Department of Health vacancies survey, March 2001—vacancies in national health service trusts in England—consultants three month vacancy rates1,2 and numbers3 for total of each group
Rates (percentage) Vacancies
Total consultants 3.0 670
Specific specialities
Accident and emergency 7.9 40
Anaesthetics (inc. intensive care) 1.7 60
General surgery 1.7 20
Obstetrics and gynaecology 1.5 20
Ophthalmology 0.8 10
Oral and Maxillo Facial Surgery 5.6 10
Otolaryngology 2.9 10
Paediatric surgery 5.7 10
Plastic surgery 2.9 10
Trauma and orthopaedic surgery 2.2 30
Urology 2.7 10
Cardiology 2.6 10
Cardiothoracic surgery 1.6 0
Clinical oncology 3.8 10
Clinical radiology 4.6 70
Haematology 2.1 10
Histopathology 6.0 50
Medical oncology 3.8 0
Palliative medicine 7.4 10
Forensic psychiatry 5.2 10
General psychiatry 7.8 130
Learning Disabilities 13.3 30
Geriatric medicine 3.0 20
Old Age Psychiatry 9.3 30
Diabetes medicine 2.7 10
1 Three month vacancies are vacancies as at 31 March 2001 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 2000 medical and dental and non-medical work force censuses (whole-time equivalent)

3 Numbers are rounded to the nearest ten

Notes:

1. Percentages rounded to one decimal place

2. England totals include staff from Special Health Authorities

3. Totals may not equal sum of component parts due to rounding

Source:

Department of Health Vacancies Survey 2001

Mr. Goodman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultants left the NHS in(a) England and (b) Buckingham in each year since 1980. [5644]

Mr. Hutton

The information requested is not available centrally.

Information about consultant vacancies in England and in Buckinghamshire health authority are shown in the table.

Department of Health Vacancies Survey, 1999–2001 Consultant vacancies in Buckinghamshire health authority3 Three-month vacancy rates1,2 and numbers4
Number of three-month consultant vacancies Three-month consultant vacancy rate (percentage)5
1999
England 470 2.3
Buckinghamshire HA 10 2.6
2000
England 600 2.8
Buckinghamshire HA 40 0.8
2001
England 670 3.0
Buckinghamshire HA 40 0.4
1 Three-month vacancies are vacancies as at 31 March 2001 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 2000 medical and dental and non-medical work force censuses (whole time equivalent).
3 HA figures are based on Trusts, and do not necessarily reflect the geographical provision of health care.
4 Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.
5 Percentages are calculated on unrounded figures and rounded to one decimal place.

Source

Department of Health Vacancies Survey 2001