§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons were employed in the National Health Service hospital service in Scotland at the most recent date for which figures are available; how many of the total were non-medical staff; and if he will provide comparable information for each of the previous 10 years.
§ Mr. John MacKayFrom the statistics available it is not possible to separate all groups of NHS staff into those employed in hospitals and those working elsewhere. The figures set out in the following table therefore show in whole-time equivalent terms as at 30 September in each year the number of medical and dental staff in the hospital service and the number of other employees in the Health Service in Scotland.
recent date for which figures are available; how many beds they contained; and if he will give comparable figures for the previous 10 years.
49W
§ Mr. John MacKayComprehensive information is available only for the years 1975 to 1979, inclusive, as follows:
Year Number of Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Number of Beds 1975 84 2,671 1976 71 2,331 1977 77 2,620 1978 76 2,578 1979 77 2,612 Information for years prior to 1975 and after 1979 is not available centrally.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement outlining his policy with regard to the expansion of private hospitals and to the existence of pay beds in National Health Service hospitals.
§ Mr. John MacKayI welcome in principle the development of private hospitals and am anxious to promote the closest co-operation between the public and private sectors of medicine to the benefit of both. Where there is a demand for pay beds in NHS hospitals I am prepared to authorise them subject to the overriding condition that their existence will not to a significant extent interfere with services to NHS patients or operate to the disadvantage of NHS patients.