§ Ms PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimate of the effect of the change in number of managers, administration and clerical staff in the NHS since 1989–90.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe national health service needs good managers. As part of the reforms we have deliberately strengthened NHS management, particularly the finance and personnel functions, to provide the quality and number of managers needed to run a £32.2 billion organisation which employs over 900,000 people. The results speak for themselves. For every 100 patients treated in 1989–90 we expect to treat about 121 this year. Average in-patient waiting times have been reduced from nine months to five months. NHS managers deserve credit for their part in these achievements. We are determined to maximise the proportion of NHS expenditure devoted to direct patient care and have recently brought forward proposals to further streamline the central management of the NHS.