§ Sir S. McAddenasked the Minister of Health when he intends to announce his conclusions on the reviews of hospital medical staffing conducted by hospital boards following the recommendations of the Platt Working Party; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BraineThe reports of Boards on medical staffing in hospitals over a period of five years have been examined in consultation with representatives of the profession. They showed a total demand for 23,910 doctors—in terms of the equivalent of whole-time staff—compared with 18,717 at the time of the reviews.
Because Boards' assessments of needs for consultant posts varied and because they proposed a total number of posts which exceeded the number of doctors now qualified or expected to qualify for consultant responsibility, it has been necessary to find a standard for approval of new posts. My right hon. Friend has agreed with the profession's representatives a method of allocating consultant posts to Boards for the period under review, and they will shortly be informed of the allocations. They will be asked to proceed with the reviews for the personal upgrading of senior hospital medical officers who now hold special allowances and occupy posts approved as consultant posts.
My right hon. Friend is considering with the profession's representatives the extent to which it would be practicable to increase the number of senior registrars and so the supply of consultants for the future.
My right hon. Friend has agreed with the profession that the new intermediate grade of medical assistant, which the 447W Working Party on Medical Staffing Structure in the Hospital Service recommended, should be introduced and the terms and conditions of service for this grade have been agreed by the Medical Whitley Council. This new grade will offer a career of responsibility under consultant supervision and will strengthen the medical staffing of hospitals at the intermediate level which cannot fully depend on doctors in training.