§ 19. Mr. Pavittasked the Minister of Health what is his estimate of the total sum paid to hospital doctors in addition to remuneration in respect of travel expenses and grants for conferences, study leave, &c., at home and overseas, expenses allowances, fees for domiciliary visits and any other fringe benefits.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonThe total sum paid out annually in respect of domiciliary visits is in the region of £2 million, but I regret that information for an estimate under the other headings is not available.
§ Mr. PavittIs my right hon. Friend aware that in October of 60 doctors in one region given permission to attend conferences, including New York, Kuwait and Rome, 49 were consultants and only 3 were registrars? As it would seem that consultants can be spared from their work more easily than registrars, should we not pay registrars more than we pay consultants?
§ Mr. RobinsonI think there is a fallacy in my hon. Friend's logic. He may like to know that the new arrangements for study leave enable doctors in training grades to have up to 30 days paid leave each year for fully approved courses. Senior staff may have up to 30 days in three-year periods.
§ case has gone down to 121,754 at the end of 1966. It is noteworthy that the number of female patients substantially exceeds the number of males which is apparently accounted for by their greater longevity and particularly higher proneness to mental illness, which is not a matter easily coped with in question and answer.
§ Following are the figures: