§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the ratio of persons employed by the National Health Service in an administrative capacity to consultants, hospital doctors, nurses and ancillary staff similarly employed by the National Health Service in each of the last five years.
§ Mrs. Castle:I regret that the information requested is not yet available for 1974. Ratios for the years 1970 to 1973 are as below:
ENGLAND—Hospital Services (Whole-Time Equivalents)
1970 1971 1972 1973 Ratio Administrative and Clerical to Consultants, Doctors, Nurses and Ancillary Staff 1:7.6 1:7.5 1:7.4 1:6.9 NOTES:
1. Administrative and Clerical staff under the purview of the National Health Service Administrative and Clerical Staff Council in hospitals, Regional Hospital Boards, Hospital Management Committees, Boards of Governors, mass radiography units and blood transfusion centres.
2. Medical and Nursing staff excluding locums and including midwives.