HC Deb 29 October 1975 vol 898 cc516-8W
Mr. Wakeham

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services approximately how many persons are currently employed in the National Health Service divided in the following categories: (a) doctors, consultants, & c, (b) nursing and similar categories, (c) domestic and similar categories, and (d) administrative and clerical staff; and what are the similar figures for the last 10 years.

Mr. Meacher

The latest figures available relate to staff employed as at 30th September 1974. In order to provide comparable statistics, the 1974 figures have been adjusted to exclude staff formerly employed by local health authorities, for example, doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives, health visitors and administrative staff. On this basis the information is:

ENGLAND AND WALES (WHOLE TIME EQUIVALENTS)
1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974
Doctors and Consultants etc. (see Note 1) 52,085 52,199 52,745 53,686 54,782 55,775 56,757 58,351 60,300 61,909 63,110
Nurses etc. (see Note 2) 212,366 222,397 231,542 239,323 241,294 245,889 252,837 263,452 280,738 284,341 289,956
Domestic etc. (see Note 3) 171,214 171,553 176,811 181,010 179,000 178,798 178,868 183,975 184,383 179,274 175,217
Administrative and Clerical (see Note 4) 48,016 50,338 52,930 54,684 55,802 58,191 61,566 64,808 69,027 73,219 79,114

NOTES:

  1. 1. Includes hospital consultants, doctors, general practitioners, dentists and ophthalmic medical practitioners—excludes School Health Service.
  2. 2. Includes hospital nurses and midwives.
  3. 3. Includes all staff within the purview of the Ancillary Staffs Whitley Council—such as laundry, domestic, CSSD, stokers, porters, catering, transport, gardening etc.
  4. 4. Includes all staff within the purview of the Administrative and Clerical Staff Whitley Council, including catering, domestic and laundry management grades, except ambulance officers.