§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the ages, sex, location and actual length of waiting time of all those patients at the special hospitals awaiting transfer to National Health Service hospitals who have been waiting for over four years; and if he will give the National Health Service region to which transfer is sought in each case.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe information as at 1 October 1984 is as follows:
recommendation 13.10 of the report, "Occupational Health and Hygiene Services" of the Select Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Lords for appointing consultants in occupational medicine within the National Health Service; and how many regional health authorities in England already employ such consultants.
§ Mr. John PattenOccupational health is a new specialty within the NHS and it will take time to develop the necessary manpower. For the next few years at least consultants in the specialty are likely to be few in numbers and will bear a heavy work load even if they restrict themselves to their NHS responsibilities. It is therefore doubtful if they will have the capacity to extend their role to occupational health services outside for some time to come. Within the terms of their contracts however, consultants are permitted to do private practice, and joint 945W appointments including the health authority and another employer would be possible should their work load allow it.
On 30 September 1983 four regional health authorities in England were employing consultants in occupational health. These were, North-West Thames, North-East Thames, South-West Thames and North-Western. In addition manpower approval has been given for the appointment of consultants in 1984–85 and 1985–86 to six English regions: Yorkshire, Trent, North-West Thames, West Midlands, North-Western and East Anglia.