§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many ophthalmic surgeons were practising in the UK in each of the last 11 years; and if he will make a statement; [119708]
(2) what measures he is taking to increase the number of ophthalmic surgeons within the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [119709]
§ Mr. HuttonThe table shows how many ophthalmic surgical medical staff including consultant surgeons were practising in England in each of the last 11 years. Information on Scotland and Wales are matters for devolved Administration. Information for Northern Ireland is the responsibility of Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office, while the institutions there are dissolved.
Consultants in ophthalmology have increased by 18 per cent. between September 1997 and March 2002. We expect to see further increases in the number of trained specialists available to take up consultant posts. Latest projections suggest that there will be around 820 consultants in ophthalmology by September 2004. This is part of the substantial planned expansion of the consultant workforce.
As part of our radical approach to free up the training system in 2003–04, trusts will have the opportunity to fund up to 40 additional training posts in ophthalmology. This will support further increases in consultant numbers.
582W
Hospital ophthalmology medical staff, in England: September 1991 to March 2002 Numbers headcount1 Ophthalmology Of which: Consultants 19912 1,641 466 1992 1,536 468 1993 1,686 507 1994 1,659 489 1995 1,739 530 1996 1,862 564 1997 1,915 580 1998 1,966 598 1999 2,021 628 2000 (March) 2,053 651 2001 2,070 683 2002 n/a 687 n/a = Data not available 1 Data as at 31 September each year except 2002 as at 31 March 2 Figures rounded to nearest whole number (correction factor has been applied)
Source:
Department of Health Medical and Dental workforce census