Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many Respiratory registrars and Consultants are currently working in the NHS, and what steps his Department is taking to increase their number.

NHS England publishes monthly information on the composition of the workforce employed by National Health Service trusts and integrated care boards in England.  This includes information on doctors grouped by their grade and the specialty area they are working in. The information is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-workforce-statistics

The relevant data can be found in worksheet 4 of the file NHS HCHS Workforce Statistics, Trusts and core organisations – data tables, in the link above.

We set out in the 10-Year Health Plan for England that over the next three years we will create 1,000 new specialty training posts, with a focus on specialties where there is greatest need. We will set out next steps in due course.

The Government is committed to training the staff we need, including doctors, to ensure patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it. We will publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed services set out in the 10-Year Health Plan.