To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to meet the recommendation of the Royal College of Radiologists that there be a minimum of 470 NHS consultant oncologists by 2000; and what progress is being made towards this target. [36638]
The Government seek to ensure an adequate supply of appropriately trained doctors in each specialty, including both medical and clinical oncology. This involves planning the number of doctors in higher specialist training on a specialty basis and including all relevant parties in the process. However, employment of consultants is a matter for local employing bodies, who make medical staffing decisions in the light of competing priorities and the health care needs of the local population.I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him today for the number of consultant oncologists up to and including September 1994.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish figures for the number of (a) consultant medical oncologists, (b) consultant clinical oncologists and (c) palliative care specialists working in the NHS for each of the last five years for which figures are available. [36636]
The information is shown in the table.who will be made redundant because of the closure of the Bloomsbury and Islington college of nursing and midwifery; [36632](2) what representations he has received concerning the proposed closure of the Bloomsbury and Islington college of nursing and midwifery; and if he will make a statement. [36633]
The closure of the Bloomsbury and Islington college of nursing and midwifery is a matter for the North Thames regional health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact Sir William Staveley, chairman of the authority, for details.