Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the number of anaesthetists working in London hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

As at June 2020, the number of doctors of all grades in the specialty of anaesthetics in the Government Office Region of London is 2,550 full time equivalent (FTE). Of these 1,299 FTE are consultants. This is an increase of 604 of which 356 are consultants since 2010.

We have increased the number of medical school places by 1,500 over the last three years and as part of this record expansion, also opened five new medical schools across the country. This year, we have also agreed to take in over 900 additional students following A-levels assessment – these students will start this year with some choosing to defer until 2021 intake. We have more medical students in training than at any other time in National Health Service history.