§ Mr. Carter-Jones asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the number of special paediatric surgeons in each area health authority per 1,000 births; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg:At 30 September 1980, 39 consultants—35.9 whole-time equivalents—whose major commitment was paediatric surgery were in contract with health authorities in England; other general surgeons also undertake paediatric work. No breakdown is available by area, but by region, the distribution of consultant paediatric surgeons then was as follows:
Region Consultants (whole- time equivalent)
Whole-time equivalent/1000 live
births
Northern 1.6 0.0581 Yorkshire 2.0 0.0388 Trent 4.0 0.0663 East Anglia — — N.W Thames 1.8 0.0379 N.E Thames 2.4 0.0465 S.E Thames 3.6 0.0788 S.W Thames 1.0 0.283 Wessex 2.0 0.0585 Oxford 2.0 0.0606 South-Western 1.0 0.0255 West Midlands 4.0 0.0562 Mersey 4.0 0.1240 North-Western 3.7 0.0680 Hospitals for Sick included in national Children 2.8 average —— —— England 35.9 0.0581