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23 Oct 2002 : Column 408W—continued
Radiographers
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many radiographer vacancies there are for each NHS health authority; and what the figures were for each year since 1997. [75790]
Mr. Hutton: The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Between September 1997 and September 2001, the number of diagnostic radiographers has increased by 800 from 10,360 to 11,160 and the number of therapeutic radiographers has increased by 130 from 1,410 to 1,540.
Cancer Care
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) total number and (b) proportion of suspected cancer patients being seen by a cancer surgeon within two weeks of referral by their GP, for each health authority; and what the figures were for each months since July 1997. [75782]
Ms Blears: The information collected centrally on urgent cancer referrals seen by a specialist within two weeks does not distinguish between surgeons and other specialists. The two week outpatient waiting time standard was introduced for urgent cases of suspected breast cancer from April 1999 and was extended to all urgent cases of suspected cancer from December 2000. Performance data is published quarterly. Information on the total number and percentage achievement of the two week standard for breast cancer since April 1999 and for all suspected cancer referrals since January 2001 has been placed in the Library.
Public Service Agreements
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what proportion of the public service agreements of his Department set out in the document Public Services for the Future 1998 have been met; and if he will make a statement [68714]
Mr. Lammy [holding answer 15 October 2002]: Information relating to the Department's public service agreement targets can be found in the Department's departmental report 2002.
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many gastrointestinal cancer patients are awaiting gastrointestinal endoscopy; and what the comparative figures were for each month since July 1997; [75776]
- (2) what the average waiting time is for patients awaiting gastrointestinal endoscopy; and what the figures were for each month since July 1997. [75768]
Ms Blears: Information is not collected centrally on patient waiting times for gastrointestinal endoscopy.
Dermatologists
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to fill vacant dermatology positions in the NHS; and what plans he has to increase the trainee posts in dermatology. [69517]
Mr. Hutton: Pursuant to my answer 15 July 2002, Column 122W: I regret that my previous reply was incorrect.
23 Oct 2002 : Column 409W
The last paragraph should read, ''As at 30 September 2001 there were 133 specialist registrars in dermatology in the National Health Service in England. The output from these existing specialist training places, when combined with other increases through increased
23 Oct 2002 : Column 410W
recruitment and retention, international recruitment, and promotion of flexible retirement, are expected to result in a 27 per cent. increase in the number of trained specialists in dermatology by 2010.''
- Source: Department of Health Medical and Dental census September 2001