§ 10. Lady Olga MaitlandTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what further proposals he has for reducing the number of administrators in the NHS in Wales.[1865]
§ Mr. RichardsThere are measures already in place to reduce management costs, and the number of administrators in authorities, hospitals and community health services has stopped increasing. There will be a reduction of about one third in the number of core staff, who are mainly administrators, in the new health authorities over the next three years. The Government aim to reduce paperwork generally in the NHS, and expect that there will be a continuing decline in the number of administrators in health authorities and trusts.
§ Lady Olga MaitlandI thank my hon. Friend for his helpful and encouraging reply, which shows his commitment to reducing administration and red tape. Will he also confirm that the health authorities have taken the hint and reduced their staffing levels by 11 per cent.—120 people? That is good news for patients because it means that there is more money for front-line hospital use.
§ Mr. RichardsMy hon. Friend is correct. The figures that she gave relate to a relatively short period—between 31 January 1994 and 31 October 1995. Those improvements have come about because, in 1994, my right hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) introduced a programme to produce savings of £12.5 million over three years£6 million in the first year, £3.25 million in the second year and £3.25 million in the third year. In addition, the reorganisation of the health authorities in Wales will lead to recurring savings of £8 million or £9 million.
§ Mr. Llew SmithWill the Minister consider not just the number of administrators in the national health service, but Health Promotions in Wales and the misleading advice that it is giving parents regarding the possible health problems to children of the measles/rubella vaccination, which was given in November last year? That advice has caused considerable problems for children and parents such as my constituents, Mr. and Mrs. Gregory.
§ Mr. RichardsI am sorry to hear about Mr. and Mrs. Gregory's case, but the Government are satisfied with the advice that we have been given based on extensive research. Such a vaccination programme has the potential to save tens of thousands of children from becoming very unwell.
§ Rev. Martin SmythWe appreciate the reduction in the number of administrators in Wales. Can the Minister confirm that under Government policy for the national health service we can look forward to that reduction spreading throughout the nation and that the money saved will definitely go towards patient care?
§ Mr. RichardsMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, during his brilliant speech at the party conference in Blackpool, said that savings would be made in the rest of the national health service.