HC Deb 18 March 1976 vol 907 c629W
Mr. Ifor Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of doctors who have left the United Kingdom for posts overseas in the past five years.

Dr. Owen

Information is not available in the form requested. The table below sets out the migration of fully or provisionally registered civilian doctors to or from Great Britain:

Period (1st October to 30th September) Doctors born in United Kingdom or Irish Republic Doctors born overseas
Outflow Inflow Outflow Inflow
1970–71 840 530 1,510 1,450
1971–72 780 700 1,290 1,730
1972–73 920 630 1,060 1,760

Provisional figures indicated that in 1973–74, the outflow of United Kingdom or Irish-born doctors remained at the 1972–73 level, but in 1974–75 may have risen by up to 150. Inflow was less in both periods and it would appear that net outflow in 1973–74 was up to 100 more than 1972–73, and in 1974–75 was up to 150 above that for 1973–74. Provisional figures for doctors born outside the United Kingdom and Irish Republic suggest that the pattern and order of size for 1972–73 continues.

I should add that in the years 1973–75, the total number of doctors working in the National Health Service increased by some 2–3 per cent. per annum.