§ Mr. HaywardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will identify the number of doctors and nurses employed in each regional health authority(a) now and (b) in June 1979.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe number of doctors and nurses employed in each regional health authority now and in 1979 are given in the table. Validated figures are available only in September each year.
483W
NHS staff in post by regional health authority at 30 September each year Whole-time equivalent 1 Regional health authority Medical and Dental 2 Nursing and Midwifery 3 1979 1988 1979 4 1988 Northern 2,530 2,820 23,940 27,770 Yorkshire 2,690 2,910 26,980 30,330 Trent 3,160 3,990 32,500 38,280 East Anglia 1,360 1,720 12,830 16,140 North West Thames 5 3,430 3,530 26,800 27,830 North East Thames 3,640 4,270 30,930 34,480 South East Thames 3,300 3,730 29,040 30,480 South West Thames 2,460 2,600 23,830 23,780 Wessex 1,970 2,160 19,660 23,680 Oxford 1,760 2,080 14,730 17,010 South Western 2,350 2,700 23,620 27,300 West Midlands 3,870 4,540 36,350 42,160 Mersey 2,000 2,280 20,960 22,180 North Western 3,490 4,220 32,160 37,530 England 5 6 38,990 44,750 358,450 403,880 1 All figures are independently rounded to the nearest ten (10) whole-time equivalent. 2 Includes medical/dental locums. 3 Includes qualified nurses, learners, unqualified staff and agency staff. 4 Figures not adjusted to take account of reduction of nurses working hours (from 40 to 37.5 per week) during 1980–81. 5 Excludes 80 whole-time equivalents medical and dental consultants for 1988 because of insufficient information. 6 Includes staff at the Dental Estimates Board, Prescription Pricing Authority, London Postgraduate Special Health Authorities, and Family Practitioner Committees. Source: Annual census of NHS Medical and Non-Medical Manpower.