HC Deb 12 July 1988 vol 137 cc162-3W
70. Mr. Chapman

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the ratios of doctors, dentists and nurses per head of population when the National Health Service was founded; and what are the comparable figures for 1978 and 1988.

Mr. Newton

The ratios for NHS staff in 1949, the earliest year for which NHS staffing figures are available, 1978 and 1986 are as follows:

NHS staff in post per 100,000 population1 England—at 30 September
21949 1978 1986
Medical3 30.0 75.5 85.9
Dental3 1.3 5.5 5.6
Nursing and Midwifery4 361.7 752.7 852.2

Sources:

DHSS annual censuses of NITS medical and non-medical manpower.

Office of population censuses and surveys mid-term estimates.

1 Ratios calculated using NHS staff in post and mid-term population figures.

2 1949 figures are based on hospital staff in post estimates. With the NHS reorganisation on 1 April 1974, responsibilities for community health services were transferred from local authorities to the NHS. the figures quoted for 1949 will not therefore he truly comparable with those for 1978 and 1986.

3Includes permanent paid, honorary and locum staff.

4 Includes agency nursing and midwifery staff.

Note: General practitioners (GPs) are not included in these figures as they are not NHS employees.