(2) how many (a) midwives, (b) consultant obstetricians and (c) consultant gynaecologists have been trained since 1997; and if she will make a statement;
(3) how many (a) midwives, (b) consultant obstetricians and (c) consultant gynaecologists there are in each region covered by strategic health authorities; and if she will make a statement.
Local national health service organisations are responsible for developing maternity services in response to the needs of their local population, and for ensuring that they have sufficient staff, with the right skills, to offer appropriate choices.
The number of registrar group doctors in obstetrics and gynaecology in each year since 1997 is shown in the following table. These are the doctors training to be consultants.
Registrar group 1997 919 1998 944 1999 1,001 2000 939 2001 950 2002 1,014 2003 973 2004 1,099 2005 1,290 Source: The Information Centre for health and social care—Medical and Dental Workforce Census
The number of midwives entering training in each year since 1997 is shown in the following table.
Degree Diploma Other Total 1996-97 161 498 993 1,652 1999-2000 395 620 757 1,772 2001-02 621 525 732 1,878 2002-03 709 724 677 2,110 2003-04 753 716 757 2,226 2004-05 895 744 735 2,374 2005-06 1,042 517 661 2,220 Source: Quarterly Monitoring Returns
The number of midwives and consultants in obstetrics and gynaecology in each strategic health authority is shown in the following table.
Headcount Consultants in obstetrics and gynaecology Qualified midwifery staff England 1,458 24,808 North East Strategic Health Authority area 95 1,274 North West Strategic Health Authority area 195 3,887 Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority area 149 2,539 East Midlands Strategic Health Authority area 104 1,757 West Midlands Strategic Health Authority area 149 2,816 East of England Strategic Authority area 126 2,352 London Strategic Health Authority area 315 4,338 South East Strategic Authority area 107 1,779 South Central Strategic Health Authority area 92 1,644 South West Strategic Health Authority area 126 2,422 Source: The Information Centre for health and social care medical and dental and non-medical workforce census