Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Health Education England on increasing the number of training places for dermatology students.

The number of medical specialty training places that are available each year in England is set by Health Education England (HEE) and is based on their assessment of service gaps and predicted workforce needs.

There are programmes of work underway as part of the development of a workforce implementation plan, which the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has commissioned Baroness Dido Harding, Chair of NHS Improvement, working closely with Sir David Behan, Chair of Health Education England, to oversee. These programmes will consider detailed proposals to grow the workforce, including consideration of additional staff in speciality fields, build a supportive working culture in the NHS and ensure first rate leadership for National Health Service staff. Baroness Harding will present initial recommendations to the Department in spring 2019.

The Department has not held specific discussions with HEE on increasing the number of training places for dermatology students. There has been a 100% fill rate in dermatology training in England for the past six years.

Dermatologist education and training and recruitment in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland is a matter for the devolved administrations.