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Written question asked by Ian Sollom (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 2 January 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 6 January 2026. It was answered by Karin Smyth (Labour) on Friday, 9 January 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.


Anaesthetics: Rrecruitment

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of anaesthetists across the UK.

Answer

We set out in the 10-Year Health Plan for England published in July 2025 that over the next three years we will create 1,000 new specialty training posts with a focus on specialties where there is greatest need.

On 8 December, the Government put an offer in writing to the British Medical Association (BMA) Resident Doctors Committee, which was rejected. The offer would have increased the number of training posts over the next three years from the 1,000 announced in the 10-Year Health Plan to 4,000, bringing forward 1,000 of these training posts to start in 2026. The BMA have rejected the Government's offer, so that is not going ahead. The Government will consider its next steps.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
101943
Session
2024-26
Related items
Deposited Paper DEP2025-0460
Monday, 7 July 2025
Deposited papers
House of Lords
Anaesthetics: Training
Monday, 20 April 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Recruitment Anaesthetics
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk