§ Mr. Neubertasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many neurosurgical beds are available in hospitals in each of the regional health authority areas in England and Wales; what is the optimum figure in relation the DHSS standard in each area; and how many beds are currently operative.
§ Mr. MoyleNo national standard for the number of neurosurgical beds is laid down centrally; health authorities submit plans in accordance with the needs of their region, which may be discussed with my Department. In advising on plans in the Thames Regions a co-ordinating group of the Department and regional representatives has accepted figures of 25 beds per142W million population for neurosurgery and a minimum of 60 neurology/neurosurgery beds in a unit for efficient working. In 1975 the number of neurosurgical beds and their average occupancy in England and Wales were as follows:
Region Available beds Average occupancy Northern 138 90 Yorkshire 134 109 Trent 76 62 East Anglia 41 31 North-West Thames 36 34 North-East Thames 155 137 South-East Thames 55 42 South-West Thames 82 67 Wessex 39 30 Oxford 22 19 South-Western 103 86 West Midlands 113 94 Mersey 113 95 North-Western 152 116 Preserved Boards of Governors 58 45 England 1,317 1,065 Wales 58 43 England and Wales 1,375 1,108
§ Mr. Neubertasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how salaries and working conditions for (a) neurosurgeons, (b) neuroradiologists, (c) neurophysiologists and (d) neuropathologists in the National Health Services compare with remuneration for similar responsibilities in the United States of America, Canada, the Middle East and other countries in the EEC.
§ Mr. MoyleDetailed information on the remuneration and working conditions of doctors working in individual specialties in other countries is not readily available, and the basis of remuneration differs widely from country to country.
§ Mr. Neubertasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons qualified as (a) neurosurgeons, (b) neuroradiologists, (c) neurophysiologists and (d) neuropathologists in each of the last five years or, as appropriate, entered the National Health Service in these capacities; how many went abroad to take up positions with these qualifications; and how many are currently in training.
§ Mr. MoyleInformation on the number of persons appointed to paid consultant posts in the National Health Service in England and Wales for the first time 143W in these specialities is given in the table below. During the year ending 30th September 1975 three paid senior registrars and two paid consultants in neurosurgery, but none in neuropathology or neurophysiology, left the grade stating an intention to go abroad. At 30th September
Speciality 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 Neurosurgery … … … 3 4 3 5 4 Neuropathology … … … 0 2 2 5 0 Clinical Neurophysiology … … … 4 1 1 2 4 The figures given are the number of staff appointed to paid consultant appointments during the 12 months ending 30th September of the year stated.