HC Deb 06 February 1992 vol 203 cc257-8W
Mr. Kennedy

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list, by staff grade and specialty, the number of full-time equivalent medical and nursing posts available to health service hospitals in 1976, 1981, 1986 and 1991.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

Information on posts is not available centrally.

Readily available information on whole-time equivalent numbers of hospital medical staff by grade and specialty is shown in various editions of the publication "Health and Personal Social Services Statistics for Wales", copies of which are in the House of Commons Library. Figures for 1976 are shown in table 3.03, volume 4, 1977; for 1981 in table 3.06, volume 9, 1982; and for 1986 in table 3.06, volume 14, 1987. Information on hospital and community nursing and midwifery staff is also shown—table 3.08(b), volume 4, 1977; table 3.10, volume 9, 1982; and table 3.10, volume 14, 1987. There have been changes over time and figures for different years may not be comparable. Information for 1991 is not yet available.

Mr. Kennedy

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what studies have been conducted, or are under way, into the administrative work loads of doctors, nurses and clinical staff in the professions associated with medicine; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

No studies that specifically address the administrative work loads of these staff groups have been undertaken in Wales.

However, such measurements are likely to be facilitated for the professions allied to medicine staff group as a result of a current study—"Workload Measurement Tools"—which the Welsh Health Common Services Authority is undertaking at unit level.