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Consultant
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the number of whole-time equivalent consultant vacancies in the NHS by specialty. [4421]
Mr. Hutton: Information is not available about the number of whole-time equivalent consultant vacancies. The Department collects information about vacant consultant posts, and information by speciality, taken from the 2001 vacancy survey, is provided in the table.
| Rates (percentage) | Vacancies | |
|---|---|---|
| Total consultants | 3.0 | 670 |
| Specific specialities | ||
| Accident and emergency | 7.9 | 40 |
| Anaesthetics (inc. intensive care) | 1.7 | 60 |
| General surgery | 1.7 | 20 |
| Obstetrics and gynaecology | 1.5 | 20 |
| Ophthalmology | 0.8 | 10 |
| Oral and Maxillo Facial Surgery | 5.6 | 10 |
| Otolaryngology | 2.9 | 10 |
| Paediatric surgery | 5.7 | 10 |
| Plastic surgery | 2.9 | 10 |
| Trauma and orthopaedic surgery | 2.2 | 30 |
| Urology | 2.7 | 10 |
| Cardiology | 2.6 | 10 |
| Cardiothoracic surgery | 1.6 | 0 |
| Clinical oncology | 3.8 | 10 |
| Clinical radiology | 4.6 | 70 |
| Haematology | 2.1 | 10 |
| Histopathology | 6.0 | 50 |
| Medical oncology | 3.8 | 0 |
| Palliative medicine | 7.4 | 10 |
| Forensic psychiatry | 5.2 | 10 |
| General psychiatry | 7.8 | 130 |
| Learning Disabilities | 13.3 | 30 |
| Geriatric medicine | 3.0 | 20 |
| Old Age Psychiatry | 9.3 | 30 |
| Diabetes medicine | 2.7 | 10 |
(26) Three month vacancies are vacancies as at 31 March 2001 which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole-time equivalents)
(27) Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post from the September 2000 medical and dental and non-medical work force censuses (whole-time equivalent)
(28) Numbers are rounded to the nearest ten
Notes:
1. Percentages rounded to one decimal place
2. England totals include staff from Special Health Authorities
3. Totals may not equal sum of component parts due to rounding
Source:
Department of Health Vacancies Survey 2001
19 Jul 2001 : Column: 436W
Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultants left the NHS in (a) England and (b) Buckingham in each year since 1980. [5644]
Mr. Hutton: The information requested is not available centrally.
Information about consultant vacancies in England and in Buckinghamshire health authority are shown in the table.
| Number of three-month consultant vacancies | Three-month consultant vacancy rate (percentage)(33) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | ||
| England | 470 | 2.3 |
| Buckinghamshire HA | 10 | 2.6 |
| 2000 | ||
| England | 600 | 2.8 |
| Buckinghamshire HA | (32)0 | 0.8 |
| 2001 | ||
| England | 670 | 3.0 |
| Buckinghamshire HA | (32)0 | 0.4 |
(29) Three-month vacancies are vacancies as at 31 March 2001 which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole time equivalents).
(30) Three-month vacancy rates are three-month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three-month vacancies plus staff in post from the September 2000 medical and dental and non-medical work force censuses (whole time equivalent).
(31) HA figures are based on Trusts, and do not necessarily reflect the geographical provision of health care.
(32) Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.
(33) Percentages are calculated on unrounded figures and rounded to one decimal place.
Source:
Department of Health Vacancies Survey 2001
Hospital Travel Costs Scheme
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to extend the hospital travel costs scheme; and if he will make a statement. [4642]
Mr. Hutton: We have no immediate plans to extend the hospital travel costs scheme. However, the scheme is being kept under review.
National Service Framework
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out the terms of reference, work programme and schedule for the national service framework reviews. [4081]
19 Jul 2001 : Column: 437W
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 17 July 2001]: The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI), with the Audit Commission—and Social Services Inspectorate where appropriate—will review the implementation of each national service framework (NSF) at an appropriate time following their publication to allow for a period of early implementation prior to review.
NSFs which have already been published are: Mental Health NSF, September 1999; Coronary Heart Disease NSF, March 2000; and Older People NSF, March 2001.
The next NSF due to be published in 2001 is the Diabetes NSF. We have announced further NSFs on Renal Services, Children's Services, and Long Term Conditions.
CHI will publish details of the broad scope and timing of each review once this has been agreed.
CHI and the Audit Commission have already undertaken a review of the implementation of the Calman-Hine/Cameron reports on commissioning cancer services in England and Wales. The report is expected in the autumn.
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the implications of the National Service Framework for Older People set out in paragraph 29, page 141 of the NSF; and what plans his Department has to analyse the impact of them. [4873]
Jacqui Smith: A general assessment of implications for wider areas of education and training was provided within the National Service Framework (NSF) for Older People. A more detailed assessment and analysis to ensure achievement of the NSF milestones will be undertaken nationally by the National Workforce Development Board, informed by the Care Group Workforce Team for older people to be established shortly, and working with education and training bodies. Regional directors of workforce development and local workforce development confederations working with local education and training organisations will play a local role.
Child Protection Register
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children in each London borough council are registered on the child protection register; and if he will make a statement. [4788]
Jacqui Smith: The latest figures available show the number of children on the child protection register of each London borough council as at 31 March 2000. These are as shown in the table.
19 Jul 2001 : Column: 438W
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of children aged under 18 years registered during 1999–2000 on the child protection register had previously been registered. [5233]
Jacqui Smith: Of those children registered on a child protection register in England during the year ending 31 March 2000, 14 per cent. had previously been registered.
Health Care (Undergraduates)
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the annual cost of providing to undergraduate students (a) free dental care, (b) free eye tests and (c) free prescriptions. [4911]
Mr. Hutton: The estimated costs of extending free treatment to undergraduate students in England are shown in the table:
| Free treatment | Approximate figure £ million |
|---|---|
| Dental care | 12 |
| Eye tests | 5 |
| Prescriptions | 34 |
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