§ Mr. Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the amount and date of each salary increase asked for by National Health Service consultants and the amount finally agreed between 1948 and the date the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Pay became operational;
(2) What was the date and amount of each increase for consultants recommended by the National Health Service Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Pay since its inception;
(3) If she will list all the increases, dates and amounts awarded to National Health Service hospital consultants since 1948.
§ Dr. OwenThe rates of basic salaries and distinction awards for National Health Service hospital consultants, with effective dates and amounts in increase, have been as follows since 1948: 549W
Salary Effective Date Increase over Previous Rate Distinction Award Increase of Distinction Award over Previous Rate £ £ £ £ 1,700–2,750 … 5th July 1948 … — A … … 2,500 — B … … 1,500 C … … 500 2,100–3,100 … 1st April 1954 … Minimum … 400 No change None Maximum … 350 2,205–3,255 … 1st April 1957 … Minimum … 105 No change None Maximum … 155 2,293–3,385 … 1st January 1959 … Minimum … 88 No change None Maximum … 130 2,550–3,900 … 1st January 1960 … Minimum … 257 A+ … 4,000* A … … 500 Maximum … 515 A … … 3,000 B … … 250 B … … 1,750 C … … 250 C … … 750 2,910–4,445 … 1st April 1963 … Minimum … 360 A+ … 4,550 A+ … 550 Maximum … 545 A … … 3,425 A … … 425 B … … 2,000 B … … 250 C … … 850 C … … 100 3,200–4,885 … 1st October 1966 … Minimum … 290 A+ … 4,885 A+ … 335 Maximum … 440 A … … 3,700 A … … 275 B … … 2,175 B … … 175 C … … 925 C … … 75 3,470–5,275 … 1st January 1969 … Minimum … 270 A+ … 5,275 A+ … 390 Maximum … 390 A … … 4,000 A … … 300 B … … 2,350 B … … 175 C … … 1,000 C … … 75 4,512–6,330 … 1st April 1970 … Minimum … 1,042 A+ … 6,330 A+ … 1,055 Maximum … 1,055 A … … 4,800 A … … 800 B … … 2,820 B … … 470 C … … 1,200 C … … 200 4,512–6,840 … 1st April 1971 … Minimum … Nil A+ … 6,840 A+ … 510 Maximum … 510 A … … 5,190 A … … 390 B … … 3,045 B … … 225 C … … 1,296 C … … 96 4,836–7,350 … 1st April 1972 … Minimum … 324 A+ … 7,350 A+ … 510 Maximum … 510 A … … 5,577 A … … 387 B … … 3,273 B … … 228 C … … 1,392 C … … 96 5,085–7,599 … 1st April 1973 … Minimum … 249 A+ … 7,350 None Maximum … 249 A … … 5,577 B … … 3,273 C … … 1,392 5,433–7,947 … 1st April 1974 … Minimum … 348 A+ … 7,947 A+ … 597 Maximum … 348 A … … 6,030 A … … 453 B … … 3,540 B … 267 C … … 1,506 C … … 114 * Now four categories. The increase implemented with effect from 1st January 1960 was recommended by the Royal Commission on the Remuneration of Doctors and Dentists. The changes in rates in 1963 and subsequent years followed reviews by the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body. In all cases the Review Body's recommendations relating to consultants were implemented, except that in 1970 the increase for consultants recommended by the Review Body was, in common with the increases recommended for general medical and dental practitioners, implemented only in part. The reports of the Review Body have normally included a summary of the evidence given by the 550W professions' representatives, but details of the claims made since 1948 by consultants' representatives are not readily available.
§ Mr. Sydney Irvingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many dental consultants and orthodontists in the National Health Service had contracts allowing them to engage in private practice in each of the last five years; and how these figures relate to the total numbers of consultants.
§ Dr. OwenI regret that information about numbers of consultants in dental surgery and orthodontics given in my 551W answer to my right hon. Friend's Question on 5th December 1974—[Vol. 882,
HOSPITAL MEDICAL AND DENTAL CONSULTANTS: ENGLAND AND WALES, 30TH SEPTEMBER Year Specialty All (including whole-time) Part-time Honorary 1969 … All specialties: Total … … 9,788 5,618 910 Dental surgery … … 281 111 105 Orthodontics … … 76 32 13 1970 … All specialties: Total … … 10,078 5,710 991 Dental surgery … … 295 110 118 Orthodontics … … 82 33 15 1971 … All specialties: Total … … 10,367 5,727 1,063 Dental surgery … … 299 106 122 Orthodontics … … 89 34 16 1972 … All specialties: Total … … 10,703 5,697 1,127 Dental surgery … … 308 109 125 Orthodontics … … 91 34 16 1973 … All specialties: Total … … 11,219 5,730 1,217 Dental surgery … … 330 110 137 Orthodontics … … 93 30 17
§ Mr. David Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients' appointments, both in- and out-patients, have been cancelled or postponed because of the consultants' work-to-contract, throughout the National Health Service and in Basingstoke, respectively; and what steps are being taken to alleviate this situation.
§ Dr. OwenIn Basingstoke during the first three weeks in January a total of 2,023 out-patient appointments were cancelled or postponed. In-patient admissions were reduced by just over 60 per cent. compared with a corresponding period in the previous quarter.
National figures of this kind are not available centrally, though I am aware that reductions in non-emergency admissions and in out-patient clinics have occurred in varying degrees in many other areas as a result of the industrial action imposed by the consultants.
On the course of the dispute I have at present nothing to add to the statement my right hon. Friend made on 28th January.—[Vol. 885; c. 188–90.]