HC Deb 04 July 1978 vol 953 cc143-7W
Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number and grade of merit awards currently made to hospital consultants in each area health authority.

Mr. Moyle

The table below sets out the distribution of distinction awards to hospital consultants, in England by NHS region and area health authorities at 31st December 1977, the latest date for which comprehensive information is available:

A Plus A B C
South East Thames Region
Regional Health Authority 0 9 29 152
Lambeth/Southwark/Lewisham AHA (Teaching) 9 32 74 99
Joint contracts RHA and AHA (T) 0 5 14 17
Total 9 46 117 268
South West Thames Region
Regional Health Authority 2 6 27 132
Merton/Sutton/Wandsworth AHA (Teaching) 8 14 42 73
Joint contracts RHA and AHA (T) 0 3 3 11
Total 10 23 72 216
Wessex Region
Regional Health Authority 1 5 26 74
Hampshire AHA (Teaching) 1 12 30 59
Joint contracts RHA and AHA (T) 0 0 0 1
Total 2 17 56 134
Oxford Region
Regional Health Authority 1 9 22 74
Oxfordshire AHA (Teaching) 4 9 30 34
Joint contracts RHA and AHA (T) 0 3 0 5
Total 5 21 52 113
South Western Region
Regional Health Authority 3 5 26 92
Avon AHA (Teaching) 3 14 30 57
Joint contracts RHA and AHA (T) 0 0 0 1
Total 6 19 56 150
West Midlands Region
Regional Health Authority 1 5 34 130
Birmingham AHA (Teaching) 5 27 57 82
Joint contracts RHA and AHA (T) 2 6 8 24
Total 8 38 99 236
Mersey Region
Regional Health Authority 0 1 17 64
Liverpool AHA (Teaching) 2 12 37 43
Joint contracts RHA and AHA (T) 1 2 13 23
Total 3 15 67 130
North Western Region
Regional Health Authority 3 6 16 125
Manchester AHA (Teaching) 4 21 52 63
Salford AHA (Teaching) 0 2 9 15
Joint contracts RHA and AHA (T) 1 4 6 14
Total 8 33 83 217
London Postgraduate Teaching Hospitals
Contract with teaching hospital only 13 24 53 67
Contract with teaching hospital and RHA/AHA (T) 3 44 66 74
Total 16 68 119 141

Distinction awards are also given to consultants in the public health laboratory service, special hospitals and community medicine physicians.

Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital

consultants are employed and what is the ratio of consultants per 100,000 population in each area health authority.

Mr. Moyle

The number of whole-time equivalent consultants employed in hospitals in England at 30th September 1977 was 10,473. Information on staffing ratios at area health authority level is not collected centrally. The following table gives whole-time equivalent consultants per 100,000 population in post at 30th September 1977 at regional health authority level.

REGIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY AND WHOLE-TIME EQUIVALENT CONSULTANTS PER 100,000 POPULATION *
Northern 23.34
Yorkshire 20.86
Trent 17.14
East Anglia 22.55
North-West Thames 26.15
North-East Thames 26.19
South-East Thames 24.18
South-West Thames 22.21
Wessex 22.01
Oxford 21.59
South-Western 19.14
West Midlands 19.91
Mersey 20.49
North Western 22.08
* Including senior hospital medical officers with the allowance.