§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the number of medical officers and dental officers employed in the United Kingdom in each of the three Services and the average number of patients per doctor or dentist in 1978.
§ Dr. GilbertThe numbers of Service doctors and dentists based in the United Kingdom on 31 December 1978 were as follows:
Royal Navy Army Royal Air Force Doctors … 259 235 318 Dentists … 81 84 77 These figures include officers filling posts in hospitals and research establishments and exercising administrative and advisory functions. There are approximately 230,000 Service personnel stationed in the United Kingdom, including the crews of naval ships in home waters. In addition, some 70,000 dependants are registered with Service medical centres. Under reciprocal arrangements with the National Health Service substantial numbers of NHS patients receive treatment in Service hospitals.