§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the annual suicide rate of NHS(a) hospital nurses, (b) general practice nurses,(c) community nurses, (d) mental health nurses and (e) all nurses in each year since 1989 stating in each case (i) the number of suicides per grade and (ii) the proportion that represents per thousand employed in that category by the NHS; and if he will make a statement; [131014]
(2) what was the annual suicide rate of NHS (a) general practitioners, (b) junior hospital doctors, (c) senior hospital doctors, (d) consultants and (e) all doctors in each year since 1989 stating in each case (i) the number of suicides and (ii) the proportion that represents per thousand employed in that category by the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [131021]
§ Mr. HuttonThe information requested is not held centrally but may be held locally by individual National Health Service employers.
We take the issue of suicide very seriously. That is why the development of strategies to reduce suicide is a major part of our programme outlined in the White Paper "Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation."
The Department has commissioned Professor Keith Hawton from Oxford University to carry out research into suicide and stress among a number of occupational groups, including doctors and nurses. His reports will be published in due course.
The table shows statistics presenting the numbers of suicide deaths for doctors and nurses. The data are presented for ages 16–74 and 16–59. It is not possible to identify doctors and nurses who were actually employed at the time of their deaths, or whether they were employed by the NHS.
Suicides (E950-E959 and E980-E989 excluding E988.81) of medical practitioners, England and Wales, 1989–98 Year Age 16–74 Age 16–59 1989 19 17 1990 25 19 1991 26 18 1992 18 13 1993 18 11 1994 25 21 1995 13 11 1996 13 11 1997 16 12 1998 17 15 1 International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision. E950-E959 Suicides and self inflicted injury. E980-E989 excluding E988.8 injury undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted excluding accelerated registrations. Notes:
1. 1989–92—years of registration
2. 1993–98—years of occurrence
410W
Suicides (E950-E959 and E980-E989 excluding E988.81) of nurses, England and Wales, 1991–98 Year Age 16–74 Age 16–59 1991 65 57 1992 56 51 1993 52 48 1994 64 54 1995 61 50 1996 54 49 1997 55 48 1998 56 51 1 International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision. E950-E959 Suicides and self inflicted injury. E980-E989 excluding E988.8 injury undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted excluding accelerated registrations. Notes:
1. 1991–92—years of registration
2. 1993–98—years of occurrence