HC Deb 21 January 1987 vol 108 cc627-8W
Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nurses and midwives were employed in National Health Service hospitals in each year since 1978, expressed in terms of whole-time equivalents.

Mr. Newton

The information requested is shown in the table. Figures for 30 September 1985 are the latest currently available to this level of detail.

Hospital Nursing and Midwifery staff1 (including agency staff) England
30 September Whole-time equivalents2
1978 313,000
1979 >319,300
31980 >330,200
1981 347,700
1982 351,900
1983 350,500
1984 350,500
1985 352,500

SourceDHSS Annual Census of Non-Medical Manpower.

1Includes qualified, unqualified and learners.

1All figures are independently rounded to the nearest 100.

1During 1980, the standard working week for Nursing and Midwifery staff was reduced from 40 to 37½ hours. No adjustment has been made for the effects of this change.

Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many doctors and dentists were employed in National Health Service hospitals in each year since 1978, expressed in terms of whole-time equivalents.

Mr. Newton

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given him by my predecessor on 3 July 1986 at column632.

Provisional figures for 30 September 1986, in whole-time equivalents, are:—

Doctors 34,252
Dentists 1,064

Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many general practitioners worked in the National Health Service in each year since 1978;

(2) what was the average number of people registered with each doctor under the National Health Service in each year since 1978.

Mr. Newton

The following is the information for unrestricted principal general medical practitioners in England:

Year Number of general practitioners Average number of patients
1978 21,040 2,312
1979 21,357 2,286
1980 21,812 2,247
1981 22,304 2,201
1982 22,786 2,155
1983 23,254 2,116
1984 23,640 2,089
1985 24,035 2,068
1986 124,460 2
1Figure is provisional.
2No figure is yet available.