[holding answer 4 December 2006]: The following table shows the trained strength against establishment for consultants in the Defence Medical Services, broken down by specialty, as at 1 July 2006.
Specialty Establishment by Specialty Trained Strength Anaesthetists 59 45 General Medicine 30 18 Dermatology 2 2 Paediatrics — 2 Genito-Urinary Medicine 2 1 General Surgeons 35 16 Urology 1 2 Orthopaedic Surgeons 28 21 Burns and Plastics 5 5 Emergency Medicine 13 14 Psychiatrists 26 13 Ophthalmic Surgeons 3 4 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 11 3 Oto-Rhino-Laryngology 7 6 Rheumatology and Rehab 7 4 Radiologists 11 7 Pathology (all branches) 11 4 Aviation Medicine 11 10 Occupational Medicine 26 40 Diving Medicine 1 2 Radiation Medicine 1 2 Public Health 4 11 General Medical Practitioner 360 250 Command and Staff (no specialty specified) 120 1— 1 The personnel filling Command and Staff posts are counted against their specialty in the above table. Notes: 1. Figures are as at 1 July 2006. 2. Figures over 100 are rounded to nearest 10. Source: DMSD
As explained in a previous answer on 4 September 2006, Official Report, column 1692W, to the hon. Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey), “Establishment” is the listing of an individual unit’s funded appointments/posts. It is different to the “Requirement”, which is those posts necessary to support Defence Planning Assumptions. In light of the defence planning assumptions contained in Defence Strategic Guidance 05, revised manning requirement figures are expected to be available before the end of this year. The new requirement figures will indicate the number and type of Defence Medical Services personnel necessary to support operations and those needed in non-operational posts requiring uniformed personnel.