§ Lord Monkswellasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the cost to the NHS of antenatal, childbirth and post-natal treatment; what proportion this is of total NHS costs; and what is the average salary of:
- (a) consultant obstetricians;
- (b) general medical practitioners; and
- (c) midwives.
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonHospital and community health services expenditure on maternity services is shown in the table.
118WA
Maternity Services £ million Maternity Services as a proportion of total expenditure(℅) Latest figures available 1995–96 England1 1,207.6 5.12 Northern Ireland2 58.8 5.5 Latest figures available 1996–97 Scotland3 169.9 3.7 Wales4 49.3 2.0 1 The maternity services figure includes obstetrics (inpatients and outpatients); other hospital services; community maternity; health promotion; services to general practitioners under open access; other community health; ambulances and administration. 2This figure includes hospital and community maternity and child health services. 3This figure includes specialist and GP obstetrics services in hospital, special care baby units and community midwifery. 4This figure includes obstetrics, general practice and common y maternity services. It is not possible to identify the average salary of consultant obstetricians, The current salary range for hospital medical and dental consultants employed on national terms and conditions is £43,750–£56,470.
From 1 December 1997 the intended average net income for the average general practitioner is £46,450 per annum, plus approximately £3,000 a year for achieving higher levels of coverage for childhood immunisations and cervical screening. Midwives' salaries are dependent on a wide range of factors, such as grade and length of service. It is therefore not possible to provide the average salary of a midwife. However, current salary rates are published in Advance Letter NM1/97, copies of which are available in the Library.