Written question asked by Baroness Tonge (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 13 January 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 21 January 1998. It was answered by Alan Milburn (Labour) on Wednesday, 21 January 1998 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action he intends to take over the predicted shortfall of doctors in the NHS; and how this will be financed.

Answer: Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he intends to take over the predicted shortfall of doctors in the NHS; and how this will be financed. [23467] Mr. Milburn: The Government are advised by the Medical Workforce Standing Advisory Committee (MWSAC) on the future balance of medical workforce supply and demand in the United Kingdom and on the intake into UK medical schools. Their third report was published recently. MWSAC's main recommendations are for the annual intake to UK medical schools to increase by 1,000, a 20 per cent. increase over the target of 4,970 for the year 2000, together with a range of measures to improve the recruitment and retention of doctors. A number of MWSAC's recommendations coincide with the Government's own thinking and should be welcomed. But the recommendation on increased medical school intake has very significant implications, and will need careful examination. The Government will announce their decision on all of MWSAC's recommendations in a few months' time in the light of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 304 c602W;304 c596W; 23467
Session: 1997-98
Subjects: Doctors Finance Health professions Higher education NHS Recruitment Medicine Students Medical Workforce Standing Advisory Committee