§ Mr. Boardmanasked the Minister of Health the annual cost of the hospital service under the National Health Service from its inception up to the latest date
EXPENDITURE OF HOSPITAL AUTHORITIES (ENGLAND AND WALES) 2 3 4 5 Year On Revenue Account On Capital Account Cost of professional and nursing services as a percentage of column 2 (See Note (1)) Estimated cost of administration as a percentage of total expenditure (See Note (2)) £m. £m. Per cent. Per cent. 1948–49 (part year) 122.7 5.3 40.8* 4.4 1949–50 189.3 8.7 46.2* 4.3 1950–51 207.4 8.8 46.5 4.5 1951–52 224.8 9.7 44.8 4.8 1952–53 244.7 9.1 44.3 4.8 1953–54 257.4 8.8 44.0 4.8 1954–55 268.7 11.3 45.1 4.7 1955–56 293.1 11.5 44.6 4.7 * Partly estimated. NOTES:
(1) The cost of professional and nursing services has been taken to be the remuneration of medical, nursing, professional and technical staff and the cost of drugs, dressings and medical and surgical appliances and equipment. Part of the general overhead expenses also relates to medical care, but this cannot be separately estimated.
(2) The figures for administration are based on the estimated administration expenditure of hospital authorities, including administration expenditure incurred at hospitals, but excluding operational expenses such as the salaries of medical records clerks.