§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of doctors employed in the National Health Service; how many of these are consultants; and what percentage of all doctors is receiving consultants' merit awards.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeAt 30 September 1983 there were 43,965 doctors employed in the hospital and community health services of the National Health Service in England and Wales. This figure excludes locum staff, and also doctors holding hospital practitioner and paragraph 94 appointments, most of whom are also general practitioners. In addition, there were 26,962 general medical practitioners at 1 October 1983 in England and Wales. Of the doctors in the hospital and community health services, 13,599 were consultants and a further 580 doctors were eligible for merit awards. At 31 December 1983 5,166 doctors in England and Wales held such awards.
Because of the differences in dates these items of information are not strictly comparable, but in round terms merit awards are held by about 36 per cent. of those eligible, or 7 per cent. of all doctors providing services to the NHS.