§ Sir Nigel Fisherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the number of ancillary workers in the National Health Service has increased since 1974 and, if so, by how many; and whether the average number of hospital beds occupied daily has increased or fallen during the same period and by how many.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe number of ancillary staff employed in the NHS in England, 475W expressed as whole-time equivalents, rose from 163,421 to 172,791 between 30 September 1974 and 30 September 1977. There are no more recent figures available. The average number of hospital beds occupied daily in England declined from 321,855 to 306,178 between 1974 and 1977, but it should be noted that during this period the annual number of discharges and deaths rose from 5,171,706 to 5,344,967.
DEATHS ATTRIBUTED TO BARBITURATES (ICD N. 967.0) OR TO ALCOHOL AND BARBITURATES (ICD N. 979.1) DISTINGUISHING SUICIDES, ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS OF UNDETERMINED NATURE ENGLAND AND WALES 1974–77 1974 1975 1976 1977 Suicides Barbiturates Male 301 248 232 198 Female 563 433 360 327 Alcohol and barbiturates Male 46 35 24 25 Female 38 30 25 44 Accidents Barbiturates Male 56 53 52 29 Female 97 112 79 67 Alcohol and barbiturates Male 51 60 38 32 Female 65 65 44 31 Undetermined Barbiturates Male 76 98 74 73 Female 169 178 169 116 Alcohol and barbiturates Male 22 17 23 22 Female 33 16 19 22