§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many doctors, including GPs, were working in the health service in 1963, and how many administrative and clerical staff; and how many there were in 1975.
§ Mr. William RossThe Scottish Home and Health Department's Health and Welfare Services Report for 1963 shows that there were then 3,378 hospital doctors, 2,863 doctors in general practice and 5,670 administrative and clerical staff working in the health service in Scotland. At 30th September 1974, the latest date for which firm staffing figures can be stated, there were 4,710 hospital doctors and 2,959 doctors in general practice. Also at that date there were about 430 doctors in community medicine including those who transferred from the local authorities to the health service at the time of the National Health Service reorganisation in 1974.
The number of administrative and clerical staff in 1974 was 11,473. Meaningful comparison of the administrative and clerical staffing levels is, however, difficult since the 1963 figures do not include transferred local health authority staff nor the staff of certain allied bodies who are now employed by the National Health Service.