Speech Therapy (Hansard, 13 January 2004)

HC Deb 13 January 2004 vol 416 cc718-9W 719W

§ Ian Lucas
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacant posts for speech therapists there are in the NHS in England. [147089]

§ Mr. Hutton
The national health service vacancy survey collects information on the number of vacancies in the NHS lasting three months or more. As at March 2003, there were 150 three-month vacancies for speech and language therapists, a fall from 240 the previous year.

§ Ian Lucas
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many speech therapists are employed by the NHS in England. [147090]

§ Mr. Hutton
As at September 2002, there were 5,960 speech and language therapists employed in the national health service in England, an increase of 1,090, or 22 per cent., since 1997.