HC Deb 13 March 2001 vol 364 c585W
25. Mr. David Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in increasing the number of doctors in the NHS. [151974]

Mr. Denham

Since 1997, the number of doctors in the National Health Service has increased by around 6,700. and there are now 97,400 doctors working in the NHS. We are committed to further significant increases as part of the NHS Plan—by 2004 we expect there to be 7,500 more consultants and a minimum of 2,000 more general practitioners.