Oral Answers to Questions

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick Excerpts

Tuesday 2nd June 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hunt]

I can confirm that we agree with the hon. Gentleman and the Opposition that we must consider adult social care provision alongside NHS provision. The two are very closely linked and have a big impact on each other. I obviously cannot give him the details of the spending settlement now, but we will take full account of that interrelationship and recognise the importance of the integration of health and social care that needs to happen at pace in this Parliament.

[Ms Margaret Ritchie (South Down) (SDLP)]

6. What recent discussions his Department has had with the Royal College of Emergency Medicine on the recruitment of additional middle-grade doctors for NHS hospitals.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Ben Gummer)]

The Secretary of State meets the Royal College of Emergency Medicine on a regular basis. The number of middle-grade emergency medicine doctors has increased by 24% since May 2010. Health Education England is working with the RCEM further to strengthen the workforce to ensure that patients receive high quality care.

[Ms Ritchie]

I thank the Minister for his response, but I disagree with him. There is a shortage of middle-grade accident and emergency doctors. When will the next recruitment of such doctors take place in the Indian subcontinent and elsewhere and have all the Home Office regulations and impediments been resolved to allow the recruitment to take place?