Written question asked by Sandra Gidley (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 7 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 17 November 2003. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Monday, 17 November 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the likely demand for specialists in elderly medicine. - Inc figures.

Answer: Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the likely demand for specialists in elderly medicine. [138155] Ms Rosie Winterton: The NHS Plan provides for increases in national health service staffing, including 7,500 more consultants between 1999 and 2004. So far, an additional 1551 specialists in geriatric medicine and 841 in old age psychiatry have been appointed, in addition to a range of other specialties who provide services to older people. The NHS has developed local delivery plans for 2003 to 2006, which are based on local assessment of need for staff. These suggest annual increases of between 3 per cent. and 4 per cent. between now and 2006 in geriatric medicine (+20 to 30 whole- time equivalent) and between 3 per cent. and 4 per cent. between now and 2006 in old age psychiatry (+10 to 20 whole-time equivalent). 1 Whole-time equivalent consultants. 2 Whole-time equivalent consultants. Sources: 1 Medical and Non Medical census: 30 September 1999 and 30 June 2003. 2 NHS local delivery plans.

Secondary information