§ Mr. SimmondsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to recruit(a) general consultants and (b) consultants in neurology in rural areas. [13492]
§ Mr. HuttonThe NHS plan states there will be 7,500 more consultants in post in 2004 than in 1999. By September 2000 the number of consultants in post had already increased by 1,100 to around 24,300. The national health service is currently drawing up plans by specialty to deliver the rest of the increase, a further 6,400 posts by 2004. We will ensure that these plans target areas of the country which are under-doctored relative to their weighted population.
In 2000 the number of consultant neurologists was 688, an increase of 31 (4.7 per cent.) over 1999. As well as the NHS plan consultant increases we aim to achieve a 54 per cent. expansion in training neurology specialists by 2010.