Lord Campbell of Croyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they are taking to redress the expected shortage within two years of consultants in obstetrics and gynaecology foreseen in the annual report of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. [HL3774]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThe number of doctors currently training as specialists in obstetrics and gynaecology is sufficient to provide around a further 400 trained specialists available to take up consultant posts by 2004. This is a significant level of growth, which the Government believes will meet the projected levels of demand for consultants. The number of consultants in obstetrics and gynaecology has increased by 187 since 1997, an 18 per cent. increase.
The Department of Health has been in discussions with all bodies involved in delivering obstetric and gynaecology services though the Maternity and Neonatal Working Group. This group is considering innovative approaches to skill mix and new ways of working to enable services to meet the needs of mothers and babies in the future.