HC Deb 09 February 1959 vol 599 c139W
52. Mr. Slater

asked the Minister of Health the standard number of patients for a local practitioner in the Durham Executive Council area; and how such figure compares with the rest of the country.

Mr. R. Thompson

The average number of patients on lists of principals whose main area of practice is within the administrative County of Durham is 2,625. The latest available average figure for England and Wales is 2,282 at 1st January, 1958.

53. Mr. Slater

asked the Minister of Health how many practices in the Durham Executive Council area are one-man practices; how many two-men practices are being worked by one local practitioner; and what is the shortage of local practitioners for the area.

Mr. R. Thompson

Sixty-nine. There is no instance of one doctor working a two-doctor practice. Sixteen districts in the Durham Executive Council area have been designated by the Medical Practices Committee as needing further doctors. About seventeen further doctors in total would be required for the Medical Practices Committee to alter its classification in all these cases.