Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to increase the numbers of (a) anaesthetists, (b) surgeons and (c) surgical care practitioners.

The Government has increased the number of medical school places in England by 1,500, alongside opening five new medical schools across England. By increasing the supply of doctors, this will ensure a larger potential pipeline for anaesthetists and surgeons in coming years in the National Health Service. Since 2010, the number of doctors working in the surgical group of specialties has increased by over 25% and the number of anaesthetists has increased by over 26%.

Surgical care practitioners (SCPs) are drawn from existing registered healthcare professionals such nurses, operating department practitioners and other allied health professionals who have extended the scope of their practice. We are increasing the pool of staff SCPs can be drawn from.