§ Sir Peter HordernTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of nurses per thousand population in each of the regional health authorities.
§ Mr. NewtonThe number of nursing and midwifery staff per thousand population employed in each regional health authority is given in the table:
NHS nursing and midwifery staff1 in post per thousand population 1986 Regional health authority Ratio Northern 8.9 Yorkshire 8.4 Trent 8.0 East Anglian 7.8 North West Thames 8.2 North East Thames 9.1 South East Thames 8.4 South West Thames 8.2 Wessex 8.0 Oxford 6.8 South Western 8.5 West Midlands 8.2 Mersey 9.2 North Western 9.5 London postgraduate special health authority * England2 8.5 Source: DHSS annual census of NHS non-medical manpower; Office of Population Censuses and Surveys mid-year estimates. 1 Includes agency nursing and midwifery staff. Ratios calculated on unrounded figures. Staff in post relate to 30 September 1986; population figures are mid-year estimates for 1986. 2 Includes staff employed by London postgraduate special health authorities. * Ratio calculation not possible— separate population figure does not exist for special health authorities.