Mr. Gareth ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of additional spinal and orthopaedic surgeons that will be needed within the next 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [77225]
§ Mr. HuttonAs at March 2002, there were 1,303 consultants in trauma and orthopaedic surgery. This represents an increase of 23 per cent. since September 1997.
The NHS Plan workforce numbers targets identify the staff needed to meet overall needs up until 2008. By this time, the latest forecasts for growth expect the National Health Service to have net increases over a 2001 baseline, of at least 15,000 doctors—consultants and GPs. This expectation is for total numbers of doctors and is not specialty-specific.
529WThe NHS is currently working on local delivery plans for a three-year period, which will identify the demand for additional trauma and orthopaedic consultants up until 2005–06. The NHS will continue to plan, for three-year periods, its future workforce requirements and steps will be taken to address the identified need.
We continually review future requirements for trained specialists as part of the NHS's new multi-disciplinary workforce planning processes. These will look at the requirements for doctors alongside other staff focusing on the potential for new ways of working and developing new roles.