§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many trained cardiologists are practising in England; how many cardiology students began training in each year since 1997; how many cardiologists qualified in each year since 1997; and what assessment he has made of the optimum number of cardiologists required by the National Health Service. [138919]
§ Mr. HuttonAs at 30 June 2003, there were 618 consultants in cardiology (trained cardiologists) working in the National Health Service in England.
As undergraduates, medical students do not undertake training in specific specialities, their medical training is of a general nature at this stage of their course. Specialty specific training begins in hospital at postgraduate level. Information on the number of doctors beginning and completing specialty training each year is not collected centrally. The number of postgraduate doctors in training and consultants in cardiology in each year since 1997 is shown in the table.
1361W
Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS) Staff Consultants and Doctors in training in cardiology England, as at 30 September Numbers (headcount) March 1997 June 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2003 House Officer 32 38 40 45 54 53 n/a n/a Registrar Group 316 351 339 344 345 392 n/a n/a n/a=not available
Source:
Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census
Doctors in training data was not collected in the March or June 2003 mini census
The coronary heart disease care group workforce team advises on workforce requirements to deliver the CHD national service framework and NHS Plan. It is required to make annual recommendations to the workforce numbers advisory board. In its 2003 report, it recommended that there was a need to continue to substantially increase the number of cardiologists. Future growth requirements are being refined and will depend on growth in activity demands and on changes in clinical practice and ways of working.