Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how often the number of specialty training places for rheumatology consultants is reviewed.

The number of advertised specialty training places in England is set and reviewed by NHS England, on an annual basis. This includes how many posts are available for each specialty. NHS England are due to complete the planned increase in medical specialty training places by September 2024, to more than 2,000 places over three years. This expansion is both supporting existing planned growth for mental health, cancer, and diagnostic services, as well as elective recovery, urgent and acute care, maternity services, and public health medicine.

In addition, as part of the historic expansion of medical school places set out in the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, we will also ensure there is adequate growth in foundation placement capacity, as those taking up these new places begin to graduate, and a commensurate increase in specialty training places. NHS England will work with stakeholders to ensure this growth is sustainable and focused in the service areas where need is greatest.