§ Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bankasked Her Majesty's Government:
Given the base year of 1999, how many additional speech therapists will be working in the National Health Service by 2004. [HL4992]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThe Department of Health has not set a target for an increase in the number of speech and language therapists.
Between 1999 and 2001 the number of speech and language therapists working in the National Health Service has increased by 510 (11 per cent) and the number of training places available for students has increased by over 110, or 24 per cent since 1999. Our workforce projections suggest that by 2004 there could be a further increase of 800. If achieved that will be an increase of 25 per cent over 1999.