Maternity Services: Manpower

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent (a) midwives and (b) obstetricians were employed in the NHS in each year since 1995. (126169)

The following table shows the number of full-time equivalent medical staff in the obstetrics and gynaecology specialities and registered midwives in each year since 1995.

*NHS hospital and community health services: Medical staff in the obstetrics and gynaecology specialties and midwifery staff in England as at 30 September each specified year*
Full-time equivalent
	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
Obstetrics and gynaecology	3,406	3,540	3,608	3,685	3,684	3,677	3,711	3,898	4,069	4,286	4,580
Registered midwives	18,034	18,262	18,053	18,168	17,876	17,662	18,048	18,119	18,444	18,854	18,949
Source: The Information Centre for health and social care Medical and Dental Workforce Census The Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census

Volume 458: debated on Thursday 22 March 2007