§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the ratio of National Health Service doctors to patients in Cardiganshire; and how this figure compares with the national average.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasThe ratio of general medical practitioners to patients in Cardiganshire was given in my reply to the hon. Member on 22nd June. It is difficult to give a comparable ratio of doctors to424W patients in hospitals since not all patients are residents in Cardiganshire nor are Cardiganshire patients admitted solely to hospitals in the County. The whole-time equivalent of 23 doctors provide service in the hospitals in the County and the average number of patients—excluding outpatients—in these hospitals in the year ended December, 1970 was 278.—[Vol 819, c. 277.]