§ LORD ARCHIBALDasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many (a) social workers and (b) psychiatric social workers were engaged in the National Health Service on July 6, 1948, and how many at the latest date for which figures are available, and what new Services 208WA requiring the employment of social workers and psychiatric social workers have been constituted in that period.
§ LORD NEWTONI regret that no figures are available relating to July 6, 1948.
On December 31, 1948, there were employed in the hospital service in England and Wales 839 social workers (including almoners), of whom 60 were part-time, and 203 psychiatric social workers (including social workers in psychiatric departments and hospitals), of whom 28 were part-time. On September 30, 1961, the numbers employed in terms of whole-time equivalents were, respectively, 997 and 458.
In the hospital service in Scotland there were employed on March 31, 1954 (the earliest date for which figures are available) 86 social workers (including almoners), of whom 13 were part-time, and 23 psychiatric social workers (including, social workers in psychiatric departments and hospitals), of whom one was part-time. On September 31, 1961, the numbers in terms of whole-time equivalents were, respectively, 105 and 47.
Comparable figures for the local health authority services are not available, but some indication of the staffing, position in 1956 is given in the Report of the Working Party on Social Workers in the Local Authority Health and Welfare Services.
No new services requiring the employment of psychiatric and other social workers have been constituted since 1948.
House adjourned at ten minutes past ten o'clock.