Written question asked by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 25 October 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 November 2004. It was answered by Lord Hutton of Furness (Labour) on Monday, 1 November 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the vacancy (a) rate and (b) number of radiographers in the NHS was in (i) England and (ii) each strategic health authority in each year since 1997. Table in Library (Deposit No. 04/1727). - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the vacancy (a) rate and (b) number of radiographers in the NHS was in (i) England and (ii) each strategic health authority in each year since 1997. [194242] Mr. Hutton: Information on the number and rate of vacancies lasting three months or more for radiographers in each year since 1999, the first year vacancy information was collected centrally, by health authority until 2001 and by strategic health authority since 2001, has been placed in the Library. The rate of vacancies lasting three months or more for diagnostic radiographers has fallen from 6.1 per cent., to 4.8 per cent., for diagnostic radiographers and from 10.7 per cent., to 8.8 per cent., in between March 2003 and March 2004. The fall in vacancy rates for radiographers reverses the trend of increasing vacancies and reflects the Government's successes in increasing both the national health service radiography workforce and also the numbers of students entering training to become radiographers.

Secondary information