§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what have been the manpower levels per thousand head of population, for doctors and nurses, when standardised to take account of changes in age and sex structure of the population, for each of the last five years in England.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe table shows the ratio of doctors—that is general practitoners plus the whole-time equivalent of hospital and community doctors—and all nursing staff — whole-time equivalent — per 1,000 managed population in England for 1977–78, which 263W indicate a steady increase in both doctors and nurses over the period. Population figures for 1982 are not yet available.
The production of figures which adequately reflect changes in the age and sex structure of the population would require disproportionate cost.
Doctors per 1,000 population Nursing staff per 1,000 population 1977 1.19 6.97 1978 1.21 7.14 1979 1.24 7.29 1980 1.28 7.53 1981 1.30 7.92 Sources of staffing figures:
(1) DHSS census of NHS directly employed staff.
(2) Family practitioner committees.