§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies there were for physiotherapists in each NHS region in each year since 1999. [158519]
§ Mr. HuttonInformation on the number of physiotherapy vacancies lasting three months or more is shown in the table. As at March 2003, there were 671 such vacancies in England, which equates to a rate of 4.7 per cent., a fall from 5.2 per cent. the year before.
NHS hospital and community health services: Three month vacancies for qualified physiotherapy staff in Government Office
Regions and England as at 31 March each specified year
Three month vacancy numbers 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 England 425 512 655 715 671 North East 12 27 31 56 25 North West 63 78 78 64 45 Yorkshire and the Humber 33 40 62 81 70 East Midlands 27 31 40 61 38 West Midlands 69 66 84 93 71 East Of England 53 75 57 43 98 London 98 101 164 180 175 South East 48 74 107 77 107 South West 21 19 32 62 42 Notes: Three month vacancy information is as at 31 March 2003. Three month vacancies are vacancies which trusts are actively trying to which had lasted for three months or more (whole time equivalents). Source: Department of Health Vacancies Survey, March 2003.