§ Dr. Owenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the latest figure for the value of resources that the average hospital consultant controls together with all his medical and nursing staff;
(2) what is the latest figure for the value of resources that the average hospital doctor, together with his nursing colleagues and hospital staff, controls each year.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe average hospital consultant, together with medical and nursing staff, controlled resources to a value of some £530,000 in the financial year104W ended 31 March 1983. The average hospital doctor, together with nursing colleagues and other hospital staff, controlled resources to a value of some £160,000 in the financial year ended 31 March 1983.
§ Dr. Owenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest figure for the value of resources that the average general practitioner and his team controls annually; and how much of this is the cost of the drugs he prescribes and how much the cost of his own time.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeIt is not possible to reply precisely in the form requested. In 1982–83 general medical practitioners received, on average, payments of about £35,000 in respect of remuneration and expenses, excluding payments for the supply of drugs. The expenses element of the payments includes the cost of staff employed by the doctor but excludes the salaries of attached health authority staff. The cost of drugs prescribed (including fees and allowances paid to dispensing doctors but excluding those paid to pharmacists) was about £45,000 on average. It is not possible to say how much of the average payment for remuneration and expenses in 1982–83 was in respect of the doctor's time but for that year the agreed average net remuneration on which fees and allowances were based was £18,990.