§ Dr. IddonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the Government's target figure is for the number of(a) GPs and (b) NHS dentists per thousand population; and what the number for the Bolton, South-East parliamentary constituency is. [50594]
§ Jacqui SmithThere is no Government target for the number of general practitioners (GPs) per thousand population. The number of GPs per thousand at 30 September 2001 is shown in the table for England and also for Wigan and Bolton health authority. Information is not available by constituency.
The GP work force envelope for Greater Manchester strategic health authority, which includes Bolton South East primary care group, is an increase of 180 GPs between 1999 and 2004.
The target is a floor not a ceiling. The guidance on filling GP vacancy issued on 13 March 2002 stated new PCTs below the existing average of 53.2 GPs per 100,000, like Bolton South East, should look to increase GP numbers by at least 6 per cent. or to at least the projected average of 55.7 GPs per 100,000. This would mean Bolton South East should look to recruit at least three and up to 20 GPs by 2004.
There is no Government target for the number of NHS dentists per thousand population. The number of NHS dentists per thousand population at 30 September 2001 is shown in the table for England and also for Wigan and Bolton health authority area. Information is not available by constituency.
The data includes dentists working in the General Dental Service (GDS), Personal Dental Service (PDS), Community and Hospital Dental Service (CHDS) and salaried dentists in the GDS. Dentists working solely in private dentistry are not covered in these figures.
All practitioners1 per 1,000 population; England and Wigan and Bolton health authority as at 30 September 2001 headcount England Wigan and Bolton All practitioners1 31,835 308 of which: NHS Plan GPs2 28,802 293 of which: Unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs) 27,843 282 Population 50,186,985 577,707 Practitioners per 1,000 population 0.63 0.53 NHS Plan GPs per 1,000 population 0.57 0.51 UPEs per 1,000 population 0.55 0.49 1 All practitioners comprises: (GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs and PMS Salaried GPs collectively known as UPEs) Restricted Principals; Assistants; GP Registrars; Salaried Doctors (paragraph 52 SFA), PMS, Other and GP Retainers. 2 NHS Plan GPs are defined as Total Practitioners excluding GP Registrars and GP Retainers. Source:
Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics
Population date: ONS (1998 based) projected population estimates.
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Number of NHS dentists1,2 per 1,000 population3; England and Wigan and Bolton health authority at 30 September 2001 headcount England Wigan and Bolton Number of dentists1 22,439 210 Number of dentists1,2 per 1,000 population3 0.45 0.36 1 Includes dentists working in the general dental service, personal dental service, community and hospital dental services and salaried dentists in the GDS. 2 Some dentists work in more than one dental service. Dentists will be counted in each service apart from dentists working in both the PDS and GDS. 3 ONS 2000 mid-year population estimates based on the 1991 census.