Distinction Awards (Hansard, 9 March 1979)

§ Mr. Patrick Jenkin
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when payment is to be made to consultants in the National Health Service of increases in distinction awards promised in 1975.

§ Mr. Ennals
The recommendations of the eighth report of the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body for immediate implementation within the pay policy did not include any change in the current annual value of distinction awards on 1 April 1978. The report, which was accepted by the Government, also recommended fully up-to-date values for these awards to be paid, with any further updating which might be considered appropriate by the review body in subsequent reports, not later than 1 April 1980; these values will subsume, from the date when they are implemented, the second-stage payments originally deferred in 1975. The Government accepted that the superannuable remuneration of doctors should be based from 1 April 1978 on the fully up-to-date rates appropriate to that date, including the appropriate values for distinction awards.

§ Mr. Pavitt
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the breakdown of distinction awards for England and Wales in 1977.

§ Mr. Moyle
The tables below set out the distribution of distinction awards to hospital consultants and community physicians in England and Wales by health region and specialty at 31 December 1977.
845W

DISTRIBUTION OF AWARDS (BY SPECIALTY) AT 31 DECEMBER 1977—ENGLAND AND WALES

Specialty Consultants with and without Awards analysed by specialty Total All awards A Plus £10,689 A£8,109 B £4,761 C£2,025 Number of Consultants with Awards expressed as a percentage of Award Holders in all specialties

Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %

All Specialties—Total 13,312 100.0 4,730 35.5 118 0.9 448 3.4 1,267 9.5 2,897 21.8 100.0

Anaesthetics 1,534 11.5 418 27.2 10 0.6 25 1.6 83 5.4 300 19.5 8.8

Cardiology 108 0.8 69 63.9 4 3.7 11 10.2 26 24.1 28 25.9 1.5

Community Medicine 632 4.7 85 13.4 2 0.3 9 1.4 19 3.0 55 8.7 1.8

Dentistry 469 3.5 155 33.1 3 0.6 14 3.0 48 10.2 90 19.2 3.3

Dermatology 199 1.5 90 45.2 2 1.0 16 3.0 24 12.1 48 24.1 1.9

Diseases of Chest 320 2.4 112 35.0 — — 8 2.5 20 6.2 84 26.2 2.4

General Medicine 1,268 9.5 629 49.6 25 2.0 75 5.9 180 14.2 349 27.5 13.3

General Surgery 1,111 8.3 551 49.6 20 1.8 65 5.8 155 13.9 311 28.0 11.6

Geriatrics 346 2.6 79 22.8 1 0.3 3 0.9 11 3.2 64 18.5 1.7

Infectious Diseases 30 0.2 18 60.0 — — 2 6.7 4 13.3 12 40.0 0.4

Mental Health 1,492 11.2 378 25.3 12 0.8 25 1.7 86 5.8 255 17.1 8.0

Nuclear Medicine 20 0.2 7 35.0 — — 1 5.0 2 10.0 4 20.0 0.1

Neurological Physiology 39 0.3 15 38.5 — — 1 2.6 6 15.4 8 20.5 0.3

Neurology 155 1.2 78 50.3 2 1.3 14 90 29 18.7 33 21.3 1.6

Neurosurgery 82 0.6 55 67.1 2 2.4 11 13.4 19 23.2 23 28.0 1.2

Obstetrics and Gynaecology 682 5.1 265 38.9 6 0.9 22 3.2 76 11.1 161 23.6 5.6

Ophthalmology 381 2.9 126 331 2 0.5 10 2.6 29 7.6 85 22.3 2.7

Orthopaedic Surgery 725 5.4 213 29.4 3 0.4 17 2.3 50 6.9 143 19.7 4.5

846W 847W

DISTRIBUTION OF AWARDS (BY SPECIALTY) AT 31 DECEMBER 1977—ENGLAND AND WALES

Specialty Consultants with and without Awards analysed by specialty Total All awards A Plus £10,689 A £8,109 B £4,761 C£2,025 Number of Consultants with Awards expressed as a percentage of Award Holders in all specialties

Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %

Otorhinolaryngology 370 2.8 125 33.8 1 0.3 10 2.7 33 8.9 81 21.9 2.6

Paediatrics 472 3.5 178 37.7 4 0.8 12 2.5 52 11.0 110 23.3 3.8

Pathology 1,422 10.7 559 39.3 11 0.8 43 3.0 153 10.8 352 24.8 11.8

Plastic Surgery 78 0.6 39 50.0 — — 4 5.1 13 16.7 22 28.2 0.8

Radiology 773 5.8 236 30.5 4 0.5 22 2.8 63 8.1 147 19.0 5.0

Radiotherapy 190 1.4 85 44.7 2 1.0 7 3.7 32 16.8 44 23.2 1.8

Rheumatology and Rehabilitation 194 1.5 51 26.3 — — 5 1.6 15 7.7 33 17.0 1.1

Thoracic Surgery 113 0.9 83 73.4 2 1.8 17 15.0 29 25.7 35 31.0 1.7

Venereology 107 0.8 31 29.0 — — 1 0.9 10 9.3 20 18.7 0.7

General Notes:—

Due to rounding, totals may not agree precisely with the sum of the parts.

Honorary consultants are included.

Some consultants practise in more than one specialty and are included in each.

There are 216 such consultants of which 125 held awards (3 A Plus, 17 A, 33 B and 72 C).

All Specialties Total All Awards Total A Plus A B C

13,312 4,730 118 448 1,267 2,897

Dual Specialties 216 125 3 17 33 72

Net Totals 13,096 4,605 115 431 1,234 2,825

848W 849W

§ Mr. Pavitt
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why 73.4 per cent. of thoracic surgeons and 67.1 per cent. of neuro-surgeons receive distinction awards in contrast to only 22.8 per cent. of doctors specialising in geriatrics and 13.4 per cent. in community medicine.

§ Mr. Moyle
Distinction awards in England are made by me on the advice of an independent committee, chaired by Sir Stanley Clayton, which also advises on the distribution of awards between regions and specialties. It is fundamental to the system that distinction and merit should be recognised wherever they are found. The committee goes to considerable lengths to ensure that the claims of all eligible consultants and community physicians are fully considered. Geriatrics were recognised as a separate specialty for awards in 1968, and community medicine became eligible only in 1974. The proportion of specialists in these two fields who hold an award has grown in

NUMBER OF FAMILIES RECEIVING FAMILY INCOME SUPPLEMENT (FIS) ESTIMATED AT 31 OCTOBER 1978 ANALYSED BY OCCUPATION OF HEADS OF FAMILIES

One-parent families Two-parent families All families

Group and description Male Female

1. Agricultural 110 550 7,460 8,120

2. Industry (Heavy) 50 690 1,200 1,940

3. Industry (Light) 70 3,770 3,390 7,230

4. Craftsmen 40 370 1,300 1,710

5. Textile and Clothing — 930 650 1,580

6. Food and Drink Trades 50 400 1,640 2,090

7. Construction and Building 80 1,240 2,920 4,240

8. General Unskilled, Warehousemen and Packers 200 2,850 8,070 11,120

9. Drivers, Transport and Communications 190 570 7,160 7,920

10. Clerical and Office 130 9,030 1,380 10,540

11. Shop Assistants and Sales 70 4,840 2,750 7,660

12. Catering, Domestic and Cleaners 140 7,460 3,720 11,320

13. Service, Sport and Recreation 40 1,880 1,360 3,280

14. Nurses — 660 140 800

15. Administrators, Social, Professional and Technical 90 1,580 4,060 5,730

16. Others — 20 50 70

17. All 1,260 36,840 47,250 85,350

Note: This table is derived from a routine 10 per cent. sample of FIS beneficiaries and is, therefore, subject to statistical error.

DISTRIBUTION OF AWARDS (BY SPECIALTY) AT 31 DECEMBER 1977—ENGLAND AND WALES
Specialty	Consultants with and without Awards analysed by specialty	Total All awards	A Plus £10,689	A£8,109	B £4,761	C£2,025	Number of Consultants with Awards expressed as a percentage of Award Holders in all specialties
Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
All Specialties—Total	13,312	100.0	4,730	35.5	118	0.9	448	3.4	1,267	9.5	2,897	21.8	100.0
Anaesthetics	1,534	11.5	418	27.2	10	0.6	25	1.6	83	5.4	300	19.5	8.8
Cardiology	108	0.8	69	63.9	4	3.7	11	10.2	26	24.1	28	25.9	1.5
Community Medicine	632	4.7	85	13.4	2	0.3	9	1.4	19	3.0	55	8.7	1.8
Dentistry	469	3.5	155	33.1	3	0.6	14	3.0	48	10.2	90	19.2	3.3
Dermatology	199	1.5	90	45.2	2	1.0	16	3.0	24	12.1	48	24.1	1.9
Diseases of Chest	320	2.4	112	35.0	—	—	8	2.5	20	6.2	84	26.2	2.4
General Medicine	1,268	9.5	629	49.6	25	2.0	75	5.9	180	14.2	349	27.5	13.3
General Surgery	1,111	8.3	551	49.6	20	1.8	65	5.8	155	13.9	311	28.0	11.6
Geriatrics	346	2.6	79	22.8	1	0.3	3	0.9	11	3.2	64	18.5	1.7
Infectious Diseases	30	0.2	18	60.0	—	—	2	6.7	4	13.3	12	40.0	0.4
Mental Health	1,492	11.2	378	25.3	12	0.8	25	1.7	86	5.8	255	17.1	8.0
Nuclear Medicine	20	0.2	7	35.0	—	—	1	5.0	2	10.0	4	20.0	0.1
Neurological Physiology	39	0.3	15	38.5	—	—	1	2.6	6	15.4	8	20.5	0.3
Neurology	155	1.2	78	50.3	2	1.3	14	90	29	18.7	33	21.3	1.6
Neurosurgery	82	0.6	55	67.1	2	2.4	11	13.4	19	23.2	23	28.0	1.2
Obstetrics and Gynaecology	682	5.1	265	38.9	6	0.9	22	3.2	76	11.1	161	23.6	5.6
Ophthalmology	381	2.9	126	331	2	0.5	10	2.6	29	7.6	85	22.3	2.7
Orthopaedic Surgery	725	5.4	213	29.4	3	0.4	17	2.3	50	6.9	143	19.7	4.5

	All Specialties Total	All Awards Total	A Plus	A	B	C
	13,312	4,730	118	448	1,267	2,897
Dual Specialties	216	125	3	17	33	72
Net Totals	13,096	4,605	115	431	1,234	2,825

NUMBER OF FAMILIES RECEIVING FAMILY INCOME SUPPLEMENT (FIS) ESTIMATED AT 31 OCTOBER 1978 ANALYSED BY OCCUPATION OF HEADS OF FAMILIES
		One-parent families	Two-parent families	All families
Group and description	Male	Female
1.	Agricultural	110	550	7,460	8,120
2.	Industry (Heavy)	50	690	1,200	1,940
3.	Industry (Light)	70	3,770	3,390	7,230
4.	Craftsmen	40	370	1,300	1,710
5.	Textile and Clothing	—	930	650	1,580
6.	Food and Drink Trades	50	400	1,640	2,090
7.	Construction and Building	80	1,240	2,920	4,240
8.	General Unskilled, Warehousemen and Packers	200	2,850	8,070	11,120
9.	Drivers, Transport and Communications	190	570	7,160	7,920
10.	Clerical and Office	130	9,030	1,380	10,540
11.	Shop Assistants and Sales	70	4,840	2,750	7,660
12.	Catering, Domestic and Cleaners	140	7,460	3,720	11,320
13.	Service, Sport and Recreation	40	1,880	1,360	3,280
14.	Nurses	—	660	140	800
15.	Administrators, Social, Professional and Technical	90	1,580	4,060	5,730
16.	Others	—	20	50	70
17.	All	1,260	36,840	47,250	85,350