HC Deb 24 February 2004 vol 418 c343W
22. Mr. McWalter

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the number of trauma consultants needed by the NHS in 2010; and how many such consultants there were on the latest date for which figures are available. [155739]

Mr. Hutton

As at 30 June 2003, there were 1,396 consultants in trauma and orthopaedic surgery, an increase of 32 per cent. since September 1997. We are planning to increase trauma and orthopaedic consultant numbers by a further 9 per cent. between March 2004 and March 2006.

The national health service will continue to plan, for three-year periods, its future workforce requirements and steps will be taken to address the identified need.