§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the current figures relating to the shortage of medical, consultant and other staff for hospitals in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board area; and what action is being taken to fill the vacancies.
§ Mr. AlisonAt 30th September, 1970, there were 1,724 medical staff—720 consultants and 1,004 others—working in the hospitals administered by the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board and the United Sheffield Hospitals, excluding locums and general practitioners working part-time in those hospitals. This is an increase of 88, or 5.4 per cent., over the previous year: for consultants alone the figures are 35 and 5.1 per cent. There were 149 vacant posts (including 54 consultant), but 51 (including 15 consultant) were occupied by locums. The vacancies are being, or will be, advertised.