HC Deb 13 April 1981 vol 3 cc49-51W
Mr. Robert C. Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many doctors were successful and unsuccessful in their applications for pre-registration posts in hospitals in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne area health authority and the Northern regional health authority in 1980.

Dr. Vaughan

This information is not available centrally. I suggest the hon. Member may like to contact the Northern regional health authority direct on this matter.

Mr. Robert C.

Brown asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many pre-registration posts he expects this year in Newcastle-upon-Tyne area health authority and in the Northern regional health authority.

Dr. Vaughan

The current number of available posts is as follows:

Northern regional health authority 135
Newcastle area health authority (teaching) 54

Mr. Robert C. Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the annual amount being paid to consultants in hospitals in the Northern regional health authority under the merit award scheme;

(2) in which consultancy specialties there are shortages in the Northern regional health authority; and in which of the area health authorities the shortage is most acute;

(3) what is the figure he proposes for recruitment of nurses during 1981 in (a) Newcastle upon Tyne area health authority, (b) area health authorities in Tyne and Wear county and (c) the Northern regional area health authority; and how this compares with the proposals for the last five years;

(4) how many nurses were recruited in 1980 in (a) Newcastle upon Tyne area health authority, (b) area health authorities in Tyne and Wear county, and (c) the Northern regional health authority; and how this compares with each of the last five years;

(5) if he will list in the Official Report hospitals in the area health authority in (a) Newcastle upon Tyne and (b) in the Northern regional health authority where beds are at present unused because of lack of financial resources to permit their use; and if he will list the numbers of vacant beds in each hospital.

Dr. Vaughan

This information is not available centrally. The hon. Member may like to contact the Northern regional health authority which, I understand, is able to provide it.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many consultants in hospitals in the Northern regional health authority are at present receiving merit awards.

Dr. Vaughan

At 31 December 1980, the latest date for which information is available, 273 consultants were in receipt of distinction awards.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing within the Northern regional health authority (a) how many consultants are employed in each area health authority, (b) how many consultants in each area health authoriy are in receipt of merit awards and (c) what are the amounts of each award.

Dr. Vaughan

On 1 April 1981, the number of consultants employed in each area health authority in the Northern region was as follows:

Number of Consultants
Cleveland 139
Cumbria 141
Durham 112
Northumberland 40
Gateshead 35
Newcastle AHA(Teaching) 267
North Tyneside 26
South Tyneside 21
Sunderland 72
TOTAL *853
* These figures relate to the consultants' main area of employment only.

The current values of distinction awards to consultant are as follows:

  • A + award £17,400
  • A + award £13,400
  • B + award £ 7,950
  • C + award £ 3,530
Information is not available centrally on the number of consultants in each AHA in the Northern region who are receiving distinction awards.

Mr. Robert C. Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many clerical and administration staff were employed in hospitals in (a) Newcastle-upon-Tyne area health authority, (b)area health authorities in Tyne and Wear county and (c) the Northern regional health authority in 1980; and what were the comparable figures for each of the previous five years;

(2) how many ancillary workers were employed in hospitals in (a) Newcastle-upon-Tyne area health authority, (b) area health authorities in Tyne and Wear county, and (c) the Northern regional health authority in 1980; and what were the comparable figures for each of the previous five years;

(3) how many nurses were employed in (a) Newcastle-upon-Tyne area health authority, (b) area health authorities in Tyne and Wear county and (c) the Northern regional health authority at the latest available date and for each of the preceding five years.

Dr. Vaughan

The information available centrally is given in the following table. I suggest the hon. Member may wish to contact the Northern regional health authority direct on the other information requested.

Number of Staff Employed in Northern RHA (Whole-time Equivalent)
Year
Clerical and Administrative Ancillary Nurses and Midwives
1975 5,199.0 11,214.7 22,747.9
1976 5,519.1 11,259.0 22,028.5
1977 5,538.9 11,170.5 22,262.0
*1978 5,700.7 11,737.3 22,914.0
* Latest date available.