§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present patient-doctor ratio in the North West Region as compared with the national figure; and what measures are being taken to create equality of distribution as among the regions.
§ Mr. CrossmanAt 1st October, 1968 the average number of patients per doctor on the lists of doctors providing full general medical services in the North West Region was 2,595. The comparable figure for England was 2,493. Special allowances are provided to encourage doctors to practise in certain under-doctored areas, in this region and elsewhere.