§ Mr. John Evansasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what plans she has to increase the number of oto-laryngologists employed by the National Health Service;
271W(2) how many otolaryngologists were employed in the National Health Service in October 1974; what is the estimated figure for each of the next five years; and if she will give the figures on a regional basis.
§ Dr. OwenThe number of otolaryngologists employed in October 1974 was 796, including 352 consultants, with 67 senior registrars and 132 registrars in training. The regional distribution—on a basis of whole-time equivalents—was as follows:
Region Number in Whole-Time Equivalent) Northern 35.9 Yorkshire 46.5 Trent 47.9 East Anglia 20.2 North West Thames 55.6 North East Thames 57.1 South East Thames 64.1 South West Thames 35.8 London Postgraduate Teaching Hospitals 36.0 Oxford 34.8 South Western 46.2 West Midlands 76.9 North Western 61.8 Mersey 36.9 Wessex 40.5 England Total 696.1 Wales 43.6 England and Wales Total 739.7 The numbers in the training grades should allow for some development.