§ Mr. Dormandasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the number of general practitioners in the Northern region; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. VaughanNo, because there are some practice areas within the region480W where the number of general practitioners is not yet adequate, and the average number of patients per general practitioner in the region as a whole, at 2,377, is higher than the average for England as a whole though only by about 3 per cent. The number of family doctors in the region has steadily increased in recent years and I expect this to continue.