§ Mr. Oakesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the national ratio of patients per general medical practitioner; what is this ratio in the area of the Lancashire health executive; and what is the ratio in the borough of Widnes and the rural district of Whiston within that executive.
§ Mr. AlisonAt 1st October, 1971, the latest date for which national figures are available, the national ratio was 2,460 patients per doctor; for Lancashire Executive Council area it was 2,724, and for the brough of Widnes 3,035. Separate figures are not available for the rural district of Whiston, but for Prescot urban district and Whiston rural district together the figure was 2,907.
At 1st October, 1972 the comparable figures for the borough of Widnes and for Prescot urban district and Whiston 89W rural district were 2,991 and 2,975 respectively.