§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he remains satisfied with the doctor-patient ratio in the Leek parliamentary constituency; and how it compares with the res; of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. DeakinsInformation is not available in the form requested for the Leek parliamentary constituency. Relevant figures about the number of doctors providing services in the National Health Service are as follows:
Hospital doctors per 100,000 Doctors providing the full range of general medical services per 100,000 Staffordshire Area Health Authority (includes Leek Parliamentary Constitu ency) * 38 England and Wales 59 (64)† 44 * Figures for hospital medical staff are not held centrally for non-teaching areas. † Whole time equivalent (with actual number given in brackets) at 30th September 1976. We are not satisfied with these disparities and the Government remains committed to reducing inequalities in the distribution of medical staff across the country.