HC Deb 31 July 1981 vol 9 c669W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he gives advice to area health authorities about the staffing of hospital theatres, the numbers of operating department assistants and operating department orderlies and the numbers of nurses who should be on duty in such theatres; and what information he has showing how ratios vary.

National Health Service Directly-employed Staff*
England as at 30 September Whole-time Equivalents
1978 1979 1980
Medical and dental staff† 35,949 37,062 38,200
Nursing and midwifery staff‡ 351,032 358,447 **367,000
††(373,400)
Professional and technical staff 57,237 60,136 **65,500
Ancillary staff 172,177 171,896 **172,500
Administrative and clerical staff 100,302 102,962 **105,700
Notes
* In addition to staff in the 14 regions this includes staff in the London Post-graduate Teaching Hospitals, the London Ambulance Service, the Dental Estimates Board and the Prescription Pricing Authority.
† Includes locuins but excludes hospital practitioners, part-time medical and dental officers, clinical assistants, general practitioners participating in Hospital Staff Funds and occasional sessional staff in the Community Health Services.
‡ Includes agency nurses and midwives and student health visitors; excludes Community Student Nurses.
** Non-medical staff figures for 1980 are estimates based on provisional returns from nine out of fourteen regions.
†† Alternative nursing and midwifery estimate is not adjusted for any reduction in the working week.

Whole-time equivalent figures on a corresponding basis are available for hospital medical, dental, nursing and midwifery staff.

Hospital Staff only

England as at 30 September Whole-time Equivalents

1978 1979 1980
Medical and dental staff 31,641 32,749 33,914
Nursing and midwifery staff 313,015 319,250 not available