Written question asked by Iris Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party) on Wednesday, 2 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 8 March 2005. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 March 2005 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Northern Ireland Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to increase (a) the number of orthopaedic surgeons in the Province and (b) the number of operating sessions they devote to the NHS. (Further information on 08.03.2005 at 431 c1656W)

Answer: Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to increase (a) the number of orthopaedic surgeons in the Province and (b) the number of operating sessions they devote to the NHS. [220621] Angela Smith: The Department carries out an annual review of the consultant workforce in each of the hospital-based specialties, including orthopaedic surgery, and the numbers in training are adjusted to meet the assessed need, subject to available resources. There are currently 41 consultant orthopaedic surgeons in Northern Ireland. Investments in training orthopaedic surgeons in recent years have been with a view to increasing the number of consultants to at least 50 by 2010. Those orthopaedic surgeons currently employed in the Province devote 137 operating sessions to the Health and Personal Social Services.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 431 c1656W;431 c1652W; 220621
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: NHS Northern Ireland Recruitment Staff Training Surgery Orthopaedics
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk