HC Deb 25 October 1976 vol 918 cc66-9W
Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average income per annum from NHS resources for a senior registrar and for a consultant in each of the last two years.

Mr. Moyle

In answer to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Mr. Moonman) on 10th November 1975—[Vol. 899, c.527–8]—the estimated average earnings for senior registrars at that time were given as £6,550. An independent survey suggested that this figure had under-estimated the amount of extra duty allowance in payment. With effect from February this year, a completely new form of contract was introduced for all junior doctors. This has been in operation for less than a full year but, taking account of the number of senior registrars on each point on the salary scale, the estimated average of earnings is £7,250 including the £312 supplement awarded from 1st April 1976.

The NHS earnings of consultants vary so widely according to the type of contract held and the amount of work undertaken for which separate fees or allowances are payable that no meaningful average can be given.

The basic salary scale for whole-time consultants was £5,433–£7,947 p.a. from 1st April 1974 to 31st March 1975 and £7,536–£10,689 p.a. from 1st April 1975 onwards. A supplement of £312 p.a. is currently payable at the minimum of the scale, which now has four points. Most consultants are on the maximum. In addition to basic salary, consultants are eligible for distinction awards, and a wide range of fees and allowances may be payable. Distinction awards are granted at one of four levels, and one consultant in three has an award. They are now

30th September 1974 30th September 1975
Region Number in post (1) Vacancies (2) (3) Number in post (1) Vacancies (2) (3)
NORTHERN
Consultants 740 32 (4) 756 46 (6)
Senior Registrars 73 11 (13) 90 14 (13)
Registrars 244 See Note 2 (b) 299 See Note 2 (b)
Senior House Officer 491 See Note 2 (b) 534 See Note 2 (b)
House Officer(4) 111 See Note 2 (b) 123 See Note 2 (b)
YORKSHIRE
Consultants 726 35 (5) 750 43 (5)
Senior Registrars 91 17(16) 100 11 (10)
Registrars 253 See Note 2 (b) 270 See Note 2 (b)
Senior House Officers 544 See Note 2 (b) 583 See Note 2 (b)
House Officers 132 See Note 2 (b) 137 See Note 2 (b)
TRENT
Consultants 760 36 (5) 111 55 (7)
Senior Registrars 123 18(13) 146 20 (12)
Registrars 341 See Note 2 (b) 362 See Note 2 (b)
Senior House Officers 569 See Note 2 (b) 593 See Note 2 (b)
House Officers 133 See Note 2 (b) 136 See Note 2 (b)
EAST ANGLIA
Consultants 376 22 (6) 395 17 (4)
Senior Registrars 65 4 (6) 78 12 (13)
Registrars 139 See Note 2 (b) 159 See Note 2 (b)
Senior House Officers 195 See Note 2 (b) 248 See Note 2 (b)
House Officers 57 See Note 2 (b) 53 See Note 2 (b)
NORTH WEST THAMES
Consultants 1,196 89 (7) 1,219 61 (5)
Senior Registrars 291 12 (4) 297 16 (5)
Registrars 518 See Note 2 (b) 576 See Note 2 (b)
Senior House Officers 556 See Note 2 (b) 565 See Note 2 (b)
House Officers 287 See Note 2 (b) 211 See Note 2 (b)
NORTH EAST THAMES
Consultants 1,183 109 (8) 1,192 131 (10)
Senior Registrars 239 16 (6) 254 16 (6)
Registrars 485 See Note 2 (b) 514 See Note 2 (b)
Senior House Officers 578 See Note 2 (b) 635 See Note 2 (b)
House Officers 336 See Note 2 (b) 363 See Note 2 (b)
SOUTH EAST THAMES
Consultants 1,032 57 (5) 1,053 54 (5)
Senior Registrars 205 17 (8) 206 18 (8)
Registrars 339 See Note 2 (b) 353 See Note 2 (b)
Senior House Officers 566 See Note 2 (b) 595 See Note 2 (b)
House Officers 282 See Note 2 (b) 280 See Note 2 (b)

worth between £2,025 and £10,689 p.a. to a whole-time consultant—subject to restrictions imposed by counter-inflation policy; the corresponding figures for 1974–75 being £1,506 to £7,947 p.a. No accurate information on earnings from fees and allowances is available: these could be up to several thousand pounds a year according to individual circum- stances.

Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the establishment for (a) consultants, (b) senior registrars, (c) registrars, (d) senior house officers and (e) house officers for each health region for each of the last two years; and, in each case, what proportion of these posts have been filled.

Mr. Moyle

I regret that information in the form requested is not readily available. Related statistics are given below.

30th September 1974 30th September 1975
Region Number in post (1) Vacancies (2) (3) Number in post (1) Vacancies (2) (3)
SOUTH WEST THAMES
Consultants 761 60 (7) 785 70 (8)
Senior Registrars 87 3 (3) 76 9 (11)
Registrars 309 See Note 2 (b) 340 See Note 2 (b)
Senior House Registrars 377 See Note 2 (b) 419 See Note 2 (b)
House Officers 148 See Note 2 (b) 149 See Note 2 (b)
WESSEX
Consultants 580 7 (1) 604 14 (2)
Senior Registrars 116 1 (1) 125 9 (7)
Registrars 188 See Note 2 (b) 177 See Note 2 (b)
Senior House Officers 335 See Note 2 (b) 356 See Note 2 (b)
House Officers 105 See Note 2 (b) 101 See Note 2 (b)
OXFORD
Consultants 495 14 (3) 505 13 (3)
Senior Registrars 134 10 (7) 131 14 (10)
Registrars 222 See Note 2 (b) 252 See Note 2 (b)
Senior House Registrars 327 See Note 2 (b) 318 See Note 2 (b)
House Officers 102 See Note 2 (b) 97 See Note 2 (b)
SOUTH WESTERN
Consultants 632 19 (3) 634 27 (4)
Senior Registrars 123 3 (2) 113 11 (9)
Registrars 176 See Note 2 (b) 165 See Note 2 (b)
Senior Health Officers 443 See Note 2 (b) 491 See Note 2 (b)
House Officers 137 See Note 2 (b) 142 See Note 2 (b)
WEST MIDLANDS
Consultants 1,047 54 (5) 1,059 62 (6)
Senior Registrars 157 20(11) 192 29 (13)
Registrars 441 See Note 2 (b) 511 See Note 2 (b)
Senior House Officers 656 See Note 2 (b) 715 See Note 2 (b)
House Officers 225 See Note 2 (b) 219 See Note 2 (b)
MERSEY
Consultants 556 29 (5) 577 21 (4)
Senior Registrars 89 4 (4) 94 4 (4)
Registrars 283 See Note 2 (b) 285 See Note 2 (b)
Senior House Officers 359 See Note 2 (b) 381 See Note 2 (b)
House Officers 142 See Note 2 (b) 152 See Note 2 (b)
NORTH WESTERN
Consultants 884 37 (4) 921 53 (5)
Senior Registrars 142 21 (13) 175 25 (12)
Registrars 342 See Note 2 (b) 368 See Note 2 (b)
Senior House Officers 662 See Note 2 (b) 754 See Note 2 (b)
House Officers 193 See Note 2 (b) 193 See Note 2 (b)
BOARDS OF GOVERNORS
Consultants 525 17 (3) 535 21 (4)
Senior Registrars 240 8 (3) 216 14 (6)
Registrars 199 See Note 2 (b) 201 See Note 2 (b)
Senior House Officers 124 See Note 2 (b) 128 See Note 2 (b)
House Officers 3 See Note 2 (b) 2 See Note 2 (b)
Notes:
(1) Permanent paid and honorary staff holding appointments in more than one region are included separately in each region.
(2) (a) Vacancy figures include some posts which are partly filled. There will therefore be some duplication with staff in post.
(b) Registrar, senior house officer and house officer posts are held only for short periods and vacancy figures are not routinely collected.
(3) Bracketed figure gives vacancies as a percentage of (numbers in post plus vacancies).
(4) Includes post- and pre- registration posts.