HC Deb 10 December 2002 vol 396 c296W
Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors were seeking locum work(a) in May 1997 and (b) at the latest available date in (-) North Yorkshire, (ii) York and (iii) England. [85805]

Mr. Hutton

The information requested is not currently available. Information on locum doctors working in the hospital, community health service and public health service (HCHS) sectors on 30 September 2002 is currently being analysed and validated and should allow us to show how many locum doctors were working on that date. This information should be available in the new year. However it will not show how many locum doctors in that sector were available for or seeking locum work.

Supplementary lists, compiled by primary care trusts, should allow us to estimate the number of general practitioners seeking work in specified areas. The data is currently being validated and should be available in the new year.