§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates he has made of the number of orthopists needed in the Health Service by 2006. [144190]
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§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 15 December 2003]Separate information is not collected in the non-medical workforce census on the number of orthopists employed in the National Health Service. The Delivering the NHS Plan target for increasing the number of therapists and scientists by 30,000 by 2008, over 2001 levels, includes orthotists as does the NHS Plan target for increasing the number of therapists and other key professional staff by 4,450 by 2004 over 1999 levels.
There is only one course in England for prosthetists and orthopists that is commissioned by Cumbria and Lancashire Working Development Confederation. In 2002–03, there were 30 training places with 32 forecast for 2003–04.