§ 18. Mr. Norman Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that a sufficient proportion of current National Health Services re sources are devoted to actual medical care, as against administration.
§ Mr. EnnalsWith health authorities, I have paid particular attention to ways of reducing the costs of managing the National Health Service so as to release the maximum possible resources for direct care of patients. So far the proportion of total revenue spent on management has been reduced from about 5.6 per cent. in 1976 to about 5.1 per cent. If this reduction is sustained, in the coming financial year I estimate that between £16 million and £27 million will be released. I am awaiting the report of the Royal Commission on the Health Service, which we hope to receive this summer; this may give advice on this matter.